Carlisle United 1-2 Sunderland
Oscar Chamberlain reviews all the action from Brunton Park as Sunderland clinched a place in the Carabao Cup third round draw.
Simon Grayson named a strong side but he also gave youth a chance against Sky Bet League Two outfit Carlisle United – and they rewarded him with Donald Love and Lynden Gooch finding the net.
Read on to recap the major talking points from the game…
RELIANT ROBIN
Sunderland started the match like a runaway train and they piled on the pressure in the early stages. Within 60 seconds Joel Asoro raced forward on the counter and fed Wahbi Khazri, but the Tunisian’s strike slammed into the side netting. Two minutes later Didier Ndong let fly but his effort was deflected behind, with Asoro denied by a superb block after the resulting corner dropped at the back post. Carlisle were on the ropes but on 11 minutes they almost caught the Black Cats cold, with Adam Matthews’ slack pass seized upon before Robbin Ruiter denied Nicky Adams one on one. And with the wind in their sails, they continued to make the Dutchman work as he clawed James Devitt’s thunderous effort over the crossbar.
LOVE TRAIN
After weathering the Cumbrians’ fightback, Sunderland reasserted their command of the game and with 24 minutes on the clock they took the lead. Gooch fashioned the chance with a quick one-two catching out the Carlisle defence, as the USA international powered to the byline before flashing the ball across goal where Love made no mistake. Carlisle responded well and had it not been for Ruiter they would have levelled, but once again the big Dutchman came up trumps to deny Richie Bennett. And when Ruiter was left rooted to the spot, Reggie Lamb was unable to provide the finishing touch as the Bermudan international struck the post with the goal at his mercy.
FIGHTBACK CONTINUES
Keith Curle’s side picked up where they left off following the restart with Carlisle working their socks off in search of a leveller. The Cumbrians were tenacious but Sunderland held firm until the 58th minute when a mistake opened the door, as a foul on Bennett by Papy Djilobodji left the referee with no choice but to point to the spot. Ruiter had stood out all evening and he continued his heroics by denying Grainger, but the rebound fell straight at the Carlisle captain’s feet and he buried the follow-up from close range. Changes followed as Lamine Kone and James Vaughan entered the fray before Aiden McGeady was called upon by Grayson.
BORN IN THE USA
With ten minutes remaining and frustration growing, Gooch took charge. And with one swing of his left boot he sent the red and white army into raptures. In a moment of pure quality the USA international burst in from the right before cutting inside and curling a lovely effort beyond Jack Bonham before wheeling away and celebrating in front of the red and white army.
BRIGHT AND EARLY
The draw for the third round will be held in Beijing at 4.15am on Thursday morning – see you there, bright and early…
Referee: Darren Bond
Attendance: 8,187 (1,929)
Carlisle United: Bonham, Grainger, Joyce (Hope 84), Liddle, Parkes, Jones, Adams (Kennedy 88), Devitt (S Miller 84), Bennett, Ellis, Lambe.
Subs: George, Nabi, Cosgrove, T Miller.
Sunderland: Ruiter, Matthews, O’Shea, Djilobodji, Oviedo (McGeady 71), Love (Kone 66), Gibson, Ndong, Khazri, Gooch, Asoro (Vaughan 66).
Subs: Jones, Honeyman, Stryjek, Embleton.
