Sheffield United vs Sunderland LIVE: Black Cats snatch 95th-minute winner to seal Premier League return
Sheffield United 1-2 Sunderland: The Black Cats staged the late show once again in the play-offs to return to the top-flight
Tom Watson fired in the greatest parting gift Sunderland could ask for as his 95th-minute play-off final winner sealed the Black Cats’ return to the Premier League.
Sunderland snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, having been roundly dominated by Sheffield United for much of the contest. The Blades took a deserving first-half lead through Tyrese Campbell before seeing a second chalked off for offside.
But after Eliezer Mayenda blasted home a crucial equaliser 14 minutes from time, Brighton-bound Watson slotted home a perfectly-placed effort in stoppage time to send Sunderland into bedlam and deliver promotion on Wearside.
Follow all of the latest from the Championship play-off final with our live blog below:
Sunderland are back in the Premier League!
In 2017, Sunderland were relegated to the Championship. In 2018, they were relegated to League One. Reeling off the humiliation of a double demotion, the Black Cats spent what felt like an eternal four years in England’s third tier.
They rebuilt, clawed their way back to the Championship, and have now reclaimed top-flight status. Dreamland.
Boyhood fan and skipper Neil raring for "a heck of a party"
"This whole city has come together in the last two weeks,” said Dan Neil.
"That's what Sunderland football club is - it resonates with all the people and when it comes together it's a powerful thing.
"For it to end with a last minute winner in the semi-final and then today it's not even what dreams are made of because you wouldn't dream of something like that.
"It's been a massive team effort and that's our biggest strength - the team.
"I don't know when it will sink in but we're going to have a heck of a party because it's been a season of ups and downs and this game sums it up, going 1-0 down, keep fighting and we got there in the end"
Just what the doctor ordered
Adrenaline will be surely numbing any pain felt by Luke O’Nien, who is in a sling after dislocating his shoulder just minutes into today’s play-off final.
He watched most of that victory from the sidelines, but he won’t care. Sunderland are UP!
Bellingham: Does he stay or does he Jobe?
You have to think that without Premier League football, Jobe Bellingham was upping sticks from the Stadium of Light this summer.
But with Sunderland back in the top-flight, will that be enough to keep their star man on Wearside?
Mayenda proving age is a non-factor on the big occasion
Eliezer Mayenda (20 years 16 days) is the second youngest goalscorer in a Championship play-off final after Julian Joachim vs Swindon in 1993 (18 years 261 days).
Wilder can't undo Blades' Wembley curse
The play-off curse continues for Sheffield United, who have now failed to progress from 10 attempts.
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O'Nien his usual self in celebration
"It's probably my best game since joining the club,” O’Nien said.
"I'm so proud of this club and these boys - I can't believe what's just happened.
"I've never felt anxiety like that - but the gaffer said if you get one goal who knows what can happen.
"Those boys, Tommy Watson - Sunderland legend. They're all Sunderland legends. I am just delighted to play a part in the happiness. What am I saying, I didn't play a part, I did nothing.
"I was just there on the side watching - I covered more ground celebrating when Eliezer and Tommy scored."
Watson's perfect final act before Brighton move
"I can’t really put it into words… it’s unbelievable,” Watson said.
"We’ll see each other next year in the Premier League, in the big time."
He said he had 100% been imagining a contribution like this, adding: "I’ve been thinking about this for weeks, I think it was written, I couldn’t have pictured it any better.
"I got closed down, saw a little gap and just used him (to curl into the corner)."
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