Sunderland AFC 2-1 Luton Town – first-leg
Sunderland AFC will travel to Luton Town with a one-goal advantage after securing a 2-1 victory on Saturday in the Sky Bey Championship Play-Off semi-finals.
The visitors struck early at the Stadium of Light, as Elijah Adebayo finished from close range after Rob Edwards’ side weathered an early storm.
Tony Mowbray’s side responded and levelled before the break, as Amad once again took centre stage on Wearside and added another wonder goal ever-growing catalogue.
The Lads boasted 60% of the play with an hour played and with 63 minutes on the clock they struck for a second time – Trai Hume was the hero after heading home Jack Clarke’s cross.
Luton rallied but the Wearsiders remained a constant threat on the counter, as an electric home
Support roared Mowbray's young guns to victory ahead of a decisive trip to Kenilworth Road.
The Black Cats made one change for the Wearside match-up, as Dennis Cirkin missed out due to injury and Alex Pritchard, who starred at Preston North End, came into the starting XI.
At 17:27, the Stadium of Light erupted as the Club’s longest-serving player Lynden Gooch led the Lads into the flames of battle amidst a glorious backdrop of red and white.
Over 45,000 packed into the SoL and Mowbray’s side made a fast start to proceedings, as Patrick Roberts’ low drive was just pushed to safety and narrowly evaded Joe Gelhardt on the rebound.
But the Hatters struck first despite the best efforts of Anthony Patterson, who’s incredible point-blank save fell cruelly to Adebayo for a two-yard tap in.
The Lads responded well and stuck to their task, battling hard against a tireless Luton side to quickly dust themselves down and respond.
And respond they did – in style.
Roberts won a free kick 20 yards from goal and the slightest of touches from Alex Pritchard teed up Amad, who curled an unstoppable finish beyond Ethan Horvath and into the top corner.
With 45 minutes played, it was all square on Wearside.
Sunderland should have led within two minutes of the restart, as Gelhardt fired wide after tenacious work from the excellent Pritchard picked out the on-loan Leeds United man.
Both sides opted to retain possession without forcing the issue in the stages that followed, but the Black Cats’ dominance grew and they started to creep forward as the hour mark approached.
Soon after, they led.
Signed from Linfield just 18 months ago, right-back turned centre-back Hume stooped to direct a pinpoint header into the corner after excellent work from Clarke.
Sunderland AFC: Patterson, Hume, O’Nien, Gooch, Roberts (Huggins 81), Neil, Ekwah, Pritchard (Ba 91), Clarke, Amad, Gelhardt.
Substitutes: Bass, Lihadji, Anderson, Michut, Taylor.
Luton Town: Horvath, Drameh (Onyedinma 72), Lockyer, Osho, Bell, Doughty (Burke 88), Nakamba, Mpanzu, Clark (Berry 79), Morris, Adebayo.
Substitutes: Shea, Potts, Campbell, Freeman.