Peterborough United 1-1 Sunderland
Matt Godden’s dramatic strike snatched three points from Sunderland’s grasp, as the battle for promotion took a disappointing twist at London Road.
Peterborough United started brightly but the game quickly balanced out, with both sides creating chances during a combative League One fixture.
The game looked like ending level, but Max Power’s goal on 87 minutes had seemingly ensured three points would be heading back to Wearside.
However, seven minutes were added on and Darren Ferguson’s side took full advantage, with Godden striking a bitter blow at the death.
Following Good Friday’s win over Doncaster Rovers, Jack Ross named an unchanged side for the Lads’ trip to London Road.
But it was the home side that started on started on the front, and Bryan Oviedo was booked inside three minutes for a late challenge on dangerman Marcus Maddison.
Both sides crafted chances during a frantic opening, with Godden poking the ball wide before George Cooper floated a header into the grateful arms of Jon McLaughlin.
At the other end, Lewis Morgan led the charge for Sunderland, and Ferguson’s men were lucky to survive a sudden onslaught that saw the winger fire wide before George Honeyman’s thumping effort was charged down.
Controversy followed, and it did so like London buses, as Morgan pulled the trigger and struck an arm moments after an incredibly late flag denied Charlie Wyke a simple goal.
A flurry of chances arrived before the break, but the deadlock remained intact, as Maddison arrowed wide, Wyke failed to pounce under pressure and Jimmy Dunne forced a point-blank save from Aaron Chapman.
A lengthy stoppage at the start of the second period ensured drama was few and far between, but as the clock ticked past the hour mark, the game started to open up.
Changes followed as deadline-day signing Will Grigg arrived on the scene, as the skipper made way and the Lads switched to 4-4-2.
Lynden Gooch joined the party soon after, as did Ivan Toney, and Posh’s top scorer threatened immediately, racing towards goal before having his heels clipped by Luke O’Nien.
The home side continued to turn up the heat, with brave defending required to clear multiple corners into the box, but with three minutes on the clock, what looked like being the defining moment arrived.
Driving into the final third, Power glanced up and pulled the trigger, with his low strike racing beyond the outstretched Chapman and into the net.
Scenes of elation followed on and off the pitch, but with seven minutes added on, Posh believed this one was far from over – and they were right.
With 91 minutes played, Godden struck to earn a point and take the battle for automatic promotion out of Sunderland’s hands.
Peterborough United: Chapman, Naismith, Knight, Woodyard, Godden, Dembele (Ward 64), Reed (Toney 71), Bennett, Lafferty, Cooper (Tomlin 82), Maddison.
Subs not used: O’Malley, White, Cooke, Burrows.
Sunderland: McLaughlin, Ozturk, Dunne, O’Nien, Oviedo, Cattermole, Power, Honeyman (Grigg 65), McGeady (Maguire 79), Morgan (Gooch 74), Wyke.
Subs not used: Ruiter, Flanagan, Leadbitter, Hume.