Alious
Sunderland have sealed a sensational return to the Premier League after seven long years, thanks to a dramatic late show at Wembley that stunned Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final.
Eliezer Mayenda and soon-to-depart academy star Tom Watson produced a pair of game-changing goals to flip the script on a match that seemed firmly in the Blades’ control. Watson, set to join Brighton in a £10 million summer move, came off the bench to strike a composed 95th-minute winner, delivering a potentially transformative £220 million promotion windfall to the Black Cats.
Sheffield United appeared on course for an immediate return to the top flight after taking a first-half lead and dictating much of the action. Championship Player of the Season Gustavo Hamer sparked a rapid counter from a Sunderland corner, racing down the left flank and threading a perfect ball through for Tyrese Campbell to chip the opener over goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.
Despite a confident showing, the Blades missed chances to extend their lead and were dealt a blow when a second goal was disallowed after a VAR review judged that Vinicius Souza had obstructed Patterson’s view from an offside position, nullifying Harrison Burrows’ long-range strike.
Sunderland had early misfortune of their own—Luke O’Nien was forced off with a shoulder dislocation just minutes in. Still, the Black Cats slowly clawed back momentum, with the youthful energy of Chris Rigg and Romaine Mundle adding life to the midfield.
Goalkeeper Anthony Patterson made several key saves to keep Sunderland in contention, including a spectacular reflex stop from Kieffer Moore just two minutes in and a second-half denial of Andre Brooks.
The equaliser finally came with just under 15 minutes left. Mayenda, assisted by the lively Patrick Roberts, blasted a clinical finish to level the match and tilt the momentum firmly in Sunderland’s favour.
Then came the moment of destiny. As the clock ticked deep into injury time, a defensive error by Moore handed possession to Sunderland, and Watson made no mistake—calmly curling the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to ignite euphoric celebrations among the red and white faithful.
For Sunderland, this triumph marks the end of a long and often painful journey back to the top, which included back-to-back relegations and a four-year League One stint. With a youthful, spirited squad and under the guidance of Regis Le Bris, the Black Cats now look to a brighter future among England’s elite.
Alious
