U21/U18 matches

Great cross and had to bury that header. Well played.

 

It's been a long journey back to football for Waters.

 

Bugger 1-2

 

****ing knew it. Murty will be fuming

 

Oof, you called it. Did so well until that last chance.

Still, it's a game the young lads can take a lot out of.

 

You could hear him slating the ref.

 

Created a lot of really good chances. I assume Geragusian will be with the 18s which why he wast there today

 

Sunderland AFC’s Under-21s suffered heartbreak in the 97th minute as Stoke City snatched a 2-1 victory in Premier League 2 at Eppleton CW, despite a dominant display from Graeme Murty’s side.

Murty named a youthful back four, with three scholars starting, while Jack Whittaker and Felix Scott led the line.

Sunderland got off to a flying start, taking the lead in the eighth minute. Timur Tutierov played a perfectly weighted pass through to the midfield, and his strike found the corner of the net to give the hosts an early advantage. Stoke responded instantly, though, with Chinonso Chibueze rifling a shot into the net to level proceedings.

Tutierov went close on several occasions, testing Stoke goalkeeper Caleb Clothier in three one-on-one situations, only for Clothier to stand firm each time. Ben Middlemas and Jaydon Jones also had long-range efforts palmed away, keeping the scoreline level.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Tutierov struck the bar in the 50th minute and curled a precise effort into the net five minutes later, only for it to be ruled out for offside. Later, he tried to turn provider, but Whittaker’s resulting effort went over the bar.

A special moment arrived with the introduction of Jake Waters, making his first appearance in 418 days, replacing Tutierov, followed by Matty Burns, who made his U21 debut with five minutes remaining.

In the final moments, Isaac Allan was sent off for two yellow cards, forcing Joe Neild to take over in goal. Despite Sunderland’s dominance and late efforts to find a winner, Stoke won it in the 97th minute as Raphael Otegbayo struck following a late corner.

Sunderland will now look to bounce back when they host Anderlecht in the Premier League International Cup at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday night.

Sunderland AFC Starting XI:
Allan, Jenson Jones, Neild, Holcroft, Lightfoot, Jaydon Jones, Middlemas (Burns), Whittaker, Scott, Tutierov (Waters), Walsh (Moore)

Unused Subs:
Metcalf, Shakespeare

 

We should have won at least 5-1. Missed a boatload of chances and got punished. Hope they learn a big lesson from it.

 

Tutierov alone should have won it for us.