FAB'S FIVE
Fabio Borini has announced his retirement from professional football. During a loan spell
in the 2013/14 season and then his return to the club on a permanent basis between
2015 and 2018, he established himself as a fan favourite. Here are five of his highlights
from his time on Wearside.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Some moments that just missed out include his worldie at Old Trafford during the 2016/17
season which, had it not been a consolation goal in a 3-1 defeat, would have had every
chance of making the list. He also scored in a 2-0 win against West Brom in 2014 which
secured the great escape. During the 2015/16 season he also scored a great goal against
Crystal Palace from an awkward angle to rescue a point at the SoL.
5) THE EQUALISER IN OUR COMEBACK AGAINST CHELSEA – 2015/16
I think many will agree that the 3-2 comeback at home to Chelsea is right up there as one of
the greatest games to take place inside the Stadium of Light. The atmosphere that day was
phenomenal and the noise when Jermain Defoe scored the winner has only really been
topped by Dan Ballard’s play-off heroics against Coventry. However, it was Borini who
would score the equaliser against his former club, with Patrick van Aanholt pulling it back
from the left wing, with the Italian receiving it on the edge of the area, taking a touch out
before firing it goalwards. With the help of a deflection off John Terry, it found its way past
Courtois. It was far from his best goal but it would provide the platform for us to go on and
win the game which meant a win against Everton in midweek would keep us up and relegate Newcastle…
4) THE PENALTY IN THE LEAGUE CUP SEMI FINAL 1 ST LEG- 2013/14
During his first spell at the club, Fabio would be the club’s penalty taker, and converted
some very important goals from the spot across his two spells on Wearside, including ones
at Stamford Bridge and Carrow Road that would be key in keeping us up in both of those
campaigns. Two other penalties have made the list, with the first one being the goal that
provided us with a lead heading into the Second Leg at Old Trafford. Up against David De
Gea with the game level, he calmly stepped up and placed it into the top right corner, which
would be our first win against the Red Devils since 2000. Borini would actually be subbed off before the penalty shootout in the return leg which saw a collection of terrible spot kicks,
and you would think had he still been on the pitch the job would have been slightly easier
that night.
3) THE PENALTY AT ST.JAMES PARK- 2013/14
As was tradition around then, Sunderland stuck three past the Geordies to continue their
misery in the derby, with this win in particular being the third of the six wins in a row. Borini
had already made his mark in the derby going into the game, which we will get to shorty of
course. After Phil Bardsley was brought down by Vurnon Anita, Fabio was the man to step
up as he always did, as he put it into the top left corner past Tim Krul. He would celebrate
on top of the advertising boards at the Leazes End looking up at the Sunderland fans in the
heavens, which has become a rather iconic image.
2) THAT GOAL AT WEMBLEY WHERE WE DARED TO DREAM- 2013/14
Up until the last couple of years I would probably argue that this was the best moment in
my Sunderland supporting life. Going into the game as massive underdogs in the middle of a relegation battle, up against a Manchester City side who were flying at the top of the table, very few would have fancied our chances that day.
However, in the 10th minute, a ball floated over the top of Man City’s defence with Fabio
Borini running onto it and despite the angle, he managed to convert past Costel Pantilimon,
sending the Red and White section of Wembley into absolute chaos. All I remember was
pretty much everybody near me in tears thinking we might actually win something against
all odds. Borini was already a fan favourite but that goal could well have made him a club
legend had it been the winner. Sadly, in the Second Half Yaya Toure’s miss-hit cross (do not
care what anybody says) very quickly ruined things as a minute later Samir Nasri gave Man
City the lead. It was not meant to be but Borini gave us all an incredible moment to
remember. Who knows, we may actually get our hands on it after all given the current news
regarding City…
1) HIS FIRST SUNDERLAND GOAL…- 2013/14
Fabio had not really gotten going on Wearside when the first derby of the season came
around in late October. Coming on in the 69th minute with the score 1-1, there was no better game or moment to make your first real impression on the Sunderland faithful. With six minutes of normal time left, Jozy Altidore laid the ball off (still cannot tell if it was a perfect set up or an awful first touch) with Sunderland’s number 31 taking a touch before absolutely launching it into the top corner from the edge of the area. I would love to know if there are any better contenders for the best first goal anybody has scored for Sunderland, it surely does not get much better than a late winner at home against Newcastle. It certainly made him a popular figure that’s for sure.
