At Eppleton CW, Sunderland’s under-21 team overcame a formidable Liverpool team 2-1 to earn a spot in the Premier League 2 knockout stages.
Lewis Koumas gave Liverpool the early lead, but goals from Harrison Jones and Timur Tutierov handed Graeme Murty’s team the three points even though the youthful Black Cats were behind. Sunderland now sits eighth in the table after the outcome, with one league game left (against Blackburn on Sunday). The top 16 teams will advance to the knockout stages of the competition under the new structure.
From the starting lineup at the Stadium of Light a week ago against Middlesbrough, Sunderland made two changes. After recovering from an injury, Ellis Taylor was given his first start since January. Tutierov was chosen to start at the front of the line, with Tom Lavery and Trey Ogunsuyi sitting on the bench.
Stefan Bajcetic, a Spanish under-21 international who was substituted at halftime, Bobby Clark, Jayden Danns, and Lewis Koumas were among Liverpool’s players who had all played for the first team this season.
With just nine minutes remaining, the visitors took advantage of a mistake made by Sunderland and got off to a fast start. Henry Fieldson, a Black Cats defender, hesitated with the ball and was then taken out by Koumas, who scored the first goal by going through on goal.
However, Murty’s team responded admirably, as Caden Kelly forced goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek into two saves, the second of which came from a free kick. The Liverpool goalkeeper then palmed away Kelly’s in-swinging corner, giving Jones the opportunity to equalize from inside the area.
Although Sunderland remained a threat on the break, Liverpool continued to have more possession of the ball. Tom Watson set him up for Tutierov, who missed a fantastic opportunity well before the hour, and Jones wasted a good opportunity shortly after the half.
After releasing Tom Watson down the left, Oliver Bainbridge gave Sunderland the lead, and in the 54th minute Tutierov finished the winger’s low cross.
More opportunities for the young Black Cats to increase their lead were presented when Mrozek mishandled Taylor’s in-swinging free kick, allowing Tutierov to head the ball onto the bar. Watson’s attempt was deflected over the bar by the Liverpool keeper a few moments later, but the score remained 2-1.
Sunderland U21s starting eleven: Fieldson, Bell, Bainbridge, Middlemas, Burke (Ogunsuyi, 81), Kelly, Watson, Jones, Tutierov, Richardson, Taylor (Lavery, 75),
Whittaker, Ryder, Chibueze, and Lavery were not substituted.
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