Sunderland teenager Tom Watson scored a sensational injury-time winner as the Black Cats completed a dramatic turnaround to beat Sheffield United 2-1 in the Championship playoff final at Wembley.
Separated by 14 points in the Championship table at the close of the regular season, the disparity in the standings was initially reflected on the field, where Chris Wilder’s men quickly took control of proceedings after Sunderland defender Luke O’Nien was withdrawn with a dislocated shoulder.
Midway through the opening 45, the Blades launched a rapid counter-attack which ended with Tyrese Campbell chipping the ball over Anthony Patterson, before Harrison Burrows had a second disallowed by the VAR for infringement.
Regis Le Bris’s half-time team talk had the desired effect, though, and an improved Sunderland got their reward 14 minutes before full time as Eliezer Mayenda levelled matters, seemingly forcing extra time in the process.
However, after the Blades lost possession just as they were about to storm forward on the counter, Brighton & Hove Albion-bound Tom Watson stroked home the calmest of winners, thus sending Sunderland to the Premier League at the expense of Wilder’s crestfallen men.
In the presence of former star Jordan Henderson, Sunderland stepped out onto the Wembley turf sporting the underdogs label, which Le Bris and his players would have been all too aware of.
The tone for the playoff final was seemingly set when Anthony Patterson pulled off a stunning save from Moore just 70 seconds in, and Sheffield United did not take long to assert their dominance.
However, after Patterson bailed out Dennis Cirkin with another crucial save in the second half, Sunderland’s belief was renewed and then some, and on the balance of the second half alone, Le Bris’s side deserved to join Leeds United and Burnley in the big time.
As Sunderland’s celebrations drag on long into the night, Sheffield United have now written an unwanted chapter of football history; no side has ever appeared in more playoff finals without winning than the Blades’ five, and this may be the most painful yet.
Sheffield United comfortably deal with a Sunderland corner, and Gustavo Hamer bursts away down the left-hand side of the pitch, before playing a slick outside-of-the-foot pass into Campbell.
The striker’s touch is perfect, and his delicate left-footed dink over Patterson nestles into the bottom corner to put the Blades in front; there were just 12 seconds between Sunderland taking the corner and Sheffield United taking the lead!
Sheffield United are sent into raptures once again, as Burrows’s low strike from the edge of the box sails through a crowd of bodies and nestles into the bottom corner.
However, replays show that Vinicius Souza was illegally impeding Patterson from an offside position, and the deficit remains at one.
Substitute Patrick Roberts drives forwards and picks out the perfect pass to Mayenda, who hammers a strike into the roof of the net to draw Sunderland level!
Sheffield United’s Kieffer Moore squanders possession on the counter-attack, and Sunderland teenager Watson is on it in a flash, surging forward and caressing the most exquisite of curled finishes into the bottom corner!
The most special of special mentions goes to Sunderland goalkeeper Patterson and the two crucial saves he pulled off in either half, but his ever-reliable centre-back Dan Ballard was just as influential at the back.
The ex-Arsenal product came up with a staggering 13 clearances – including one off the line – while winning nine of his 12 aerial battles and both of his ground duels in a performance that warranted Premier League football.
