Sunderland bounced back from the midweek disappointment with a victory thanks to a Nathan Broadhead wonder goal.
Sunderland took the lead via an Alex Pritchard goal but were pegged back by Sam Smith’s goal, and Broadhead’s first league goal for Sunderland gave the lads the lead going into half time.
Lee Johnson made two changes to the side that drew with Shrewsbury with Leon Dajaku and Tom Flanagan coming in for Aiden O’Brien, and Luke O’Nien.
The last time Sunderland faced Cambridge, it was a 7-0 win back in 2002 in a League Cup fixture with Torre Andre Flo, Marcus Stewart, and Claudio Reyna amongst the goals.
The lads worked it well down the right-hand side and Lynden Gooch whipped in an inviting delivery, but Ross Stewart was inches away.
Sunderland took the lead in crazy circumstances, Alex Pritchard’s corner, with help from the wind, flew over everyone and hit the inside of the post and went in.
Cambridge levelled 25 minutes into the game with their first meaningful effort on target following some good work from Wes Hoolahan, the ball dropped to Sam Smith, who fired an effort that squeezed in at the near post.
Sunderland were looking dangerous from corners, Pritchard tried to test the keeper again, and with the wind causing chaos he almost scored again.
With less than ten minutes in the half, Broadhead put Sunderland back in the lead; Johnson’s men worked it well down the right and found the Everton loanee who turned his man brilliantly and unleashed a rocket into the top corner.
Dan Neil did well to thread a ball into Stewart who went down looking for a penalty, but the referee waved it way.
Cambridge were close to an equaliser as Hoolahan’s ball in was met by Joe Ironside, but his header was well saved by Thorben Hoffman.
With the hosts playing with the wind behind them set-pieces were causing Sunderland all sorts of problems, and Hoffman was called into action again to deny Paul Digby’s effort.
The front three of Broadhead, Pritchard and Stewart combined well up top, but Stewart six yards out couldn’t turn his man and get a shot away.
The home side were pushing for the leveller, and the ball fell for James Brophy, but Gooch did brilliantly to block the shot.
Sunderland were hanging on, with long throws and set pieces causing havoc under the horrendous conditions.
Against the run of play, Sunderland should have sealed the points, Stewart released Broadhead through on goal, but his effort flew just wide of the post.
Sunderland looked a threat on the break and Dajaku did well to pick out Stewart, who laid it back to Broadhead, but his effort sailed over.
With not long left, it was one way traffic in favour of the hosts, the 2500 away fans were doing their best to roar the lads onto the three points.
Full Time: Cambridge United 1-2 Sunderland
ALS Man of the Match: Nathan Broadhead
Sunderland: Hoffmann; Winchester, Wright, Flanagan, Doyle; Gooch, Neil, Dajaku Pritchard (Harris 79’); Broadhead, Stewart
Subs not used: Patterson, Alves, Dunne, Embleton & O’Brien
