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:
Sheffield United 1-0 Sunderland
45+3 mins: Rhian Brewster defends a Sunderland corner well, but unlike 20 minutes earlier, it doesn’t lead to Sheffield United goal this time.
Sunderland retrieve it on halfway and have to build from the back.
Sheffield United 1-0 Sunderland
45+1 mins: EIGHT minutes added on.
A lot of that comes from Luke O’Nien’s treatment who is now back on the bench, grinning through the pain.
Sheffield United 1-0 Sunderland
44 mins: Mundle has been one of the few bright sparks for Sunderland so far. He gets it on the left again and makes strides into the centre, only to be crunched by Ahmedhodzic.
'Sunderland haven't offered much'
It was probably correct that Harrison Burrows' goal was chalked off, but it is a reprieve for Sunderland nonetheless. They haven't offered much in this first half.
Regis Le Bris opted to drop Patrick Roberts and Wilson Isidor and so far, neither decision has really been justified. Sheffield United have made all the running so far.
Sheffield United 1-0 Sunderland
40 mins: Could this be a catalyst for Sunderland? They’ve barely been in this play-off final - and if they conceded a second, it’s hard to have imagined them recovering.
But they’ve been handed a reprieve, and if they can get to half-time in this position, there will still be hope.
Le Bris’s side need to start playing either way.
NO GOAL! Sheffield United 1-0 Sunderland
37 mins: Chris Kavanagh comes to Sunderland’s rescue, with Souza in an offside position and blocking the sight of Patterson.
A huge lifeline.
GOAL! Sheffield United 2-0 Sunderland (Burrows, 35')
ANOTHER GOAL AT WEMBLEY FOR BURROWS!
But will it stand - his half-volley from the edge of the box goes through the crowd into the bottom corner, but as he hits it, Souza is standing directly in front of Patterson.
The ref is off to the monitor...
Sheffield United 1-0 Sunderland
32 mins: Sunderland are messing up even the simplest of passes - they’re all going wayward.
One back to the keeper, under zero pressure, had Patterson running in circles to retrieve it.
Sheffield United 1-0 Sunderland
29 mins: Confirmation that Luke O’Nien suffered a dislocated shoulder - and that it has now been popped back in.
Sunderland are suffering all round at the moment.
'A popular scorer'
Devastating counter-attack by Sheffield United, capped by a delightful, dinked finish. Tyrese Campbell will be a popular scorer far beyond their fanbase, given how popular his late father, Kevin, was at clubs such as Arsenal, Everton and West Brom.
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