Teen star Joel Asoro was on target forSunderland as the Black Cats opened their Premier League 2 campaign with a draw against Chelsea. David Moyes was at Eppleton to watch Asoro, who was an unused substitute for the first-team at Manchester City yesterday, cause Chelsea all kinds of problems. The 17-year-old had four good chances in the first half, before he took advantage of a goalkeeping howler to give Andy Welsh’s side the lead just after the hour. But Chelsea benefited from an equally poor error at the other end 20 minutes from time, as Dan Wright’s put through his own net with an attempted backpass. The Black Cats had the better of the first half, with Asoro a constant menace. The striker drove a low shot across the face of goal inside the first five minutes, and soon after he skipped past three challenges on the edge of the box before pulling the trigger only to see his goalbound shot deflect off a defender and wide of the target. Sunderland had a let-off midway through the half when a tame shot from the edge of the box hit Michael Ledger and fell at the feet of Chelsea frontman Ike Ugbo behind him, but Jordan Pickford was quickly off his line to block with his feet. Asoro should have given his side the lead on the half-hour when he turned Trevor Chalobah inside-out in the area, but he lifted his shot over the bar with the goalkeeper exposed. And he also whistled a shot past the right-hand post a couple of minutes before half-time. He made the breakthrough in the 61st minute, after being presented with a gift by goalkeeper Nathan Baxter. The Chelsea man tried to pass the ball short to a defender but Asoro read the situation, intercepted and fired home from the edge of the box as the keeper scrambled to get back into position. Chelsea’s 70th minute equaliser also came from a mistake, with Pickford unable to prevent a misplaced backpass from Wright from rolling over the line. SUNDERLAND U23: Pickford, J Robson, Brady, Ledger, T Robson, Agnew, Wright, Greenwood (Lawson 64), Honeyman, Embleton (Molyneux 64), Asoro (Maja 82). Subs not used: Stryjek, Casey BOOKED: Ledger, Agnew CHELSEA U23: Baxter, Dabo, Colley, Chalobah, Da-Silva, Quintero (Sammut 81), Sterling (Wakefield 72), Colkett (Muheim 46), Scott, Mount, Ugbo. Subs not used: Thompson, Christie-Davies REFEREE: Anthony Backhouse
It certainly looks like our acadamey is starting to show dividends. Weve got a great set of kids coming through!
Its great for any club to have a home grown player or two in the starting line up and I can see it happening here with Moyes in charge. I thought Gooch, a surprise choice, was excellent on his debut and has a great chance, along with several others mentioned elsewhere. It almost has me dreaming of another 1973, which must be the last time we had a nucleus of home grown talent in the starting eleven. Monty, Pitt, Horswill, Kerr, Hughes and Tueart all coming through from our the youth team. Happy Days indeed.
Gooch was that good yesterday im starting to think he could overshadow Watmore. Hes little but hes alot stockier than Watmore. I dont want to get too carried away though.
So was Bobby Kerr, not to mention Maradona, now who's getting carried away, in a strait jacket if we keep this up.
I randomly spoke to Gooch at half time in the West stand against the Geordies last season. I was stood with a pint near the bar then all of a sudden loads of young looking lads with Safc tracksuits on walked past everyone and through a door next to the bar. I recognised Gooch straight away and in my drunken state i grabbed him. He looked shocked at first but when he realised i was ok he stayed and chatted with me. He seemed a spot on lad.
Known a few of the lads in the past, due to living very close to the old ground and drinking in some popular watering holes. All sound and grounded, as its a hard life with lots of pressure, certainly no bed of roses that some think.
He's a right live wire. There's something special about him. I'll get shot down for this, because he's got no experience... I'd be happy for him to stand in for Defoe, when required, from what I've seen of him in reserve games and friendlies. Not bothered about his age, he looks ready and easily talented enough.
I'd be inclined to agree from what I've seen. He looks **** hot on the ball and scores goals, seems to have good awareness of who is around him and where. I couldn't speak of his positional sense and a couple of other things but I've seen enough for me to have genuine confidence that he's the real thing.
He looks like somebody who can keep progressing as well, he's got everything. On a side note, I still don't have much faith in Watmore. He doesn't have a football brain, for me, and I'm seeing him as another false start, a bit like James McClean.
I know what you mean, if I'm being honest with myself I've been kidding myself a bit about how good Watmore will be, if you don't have the football brain naturally then you'll never truly have it. He does have enough about him to be a solid player for us though, experience will help his progression. I like a lot about him. Asoro on the other hand looks like a naturally very high quality player.
This kid is supremely confident and believes in his abilities to the extent that he will be a regular before end of season.
