Sunderland drew 4–4 in a thrilling game at the SoL on Good Friday- a result which all but ends the lads’ playoff aspirations.
The game swung back and forth in dramatic fashion but Tony Mowbray’s side looked to have sealed the points when Jack Clarke scored five minutes from time to put Sunderland into the lead for the second time in the game. However, a clumsy tackle from Pierre Ekwah in the last seconds of the game allowed Tufan to seal a point from the penalty spot.
There was mixed news on the injury front with long term absentee Niall Huggins suffering another setback, although Tony Mowbray expected to have Dennis Cirkin and Alex Pritchard available for selection. The gaffer admitted Sunderland needed to beat Hull to keep alive their faint playoff hopes after last Friday’s goalless draw at Burnley.
Mowbray made two changes to the side that started at Turf Moor with Amad and Michut returning to the side in place of Pritchard and Ekwah.
Sunderland were wearing red shorts to promote a charity initiative and the lads had a lot of the ball early on before threatening after seven minutes. Jack Clarke robbed the Hull right back and surged forward on the counter before finding Amad. He in turn found Roberts who fired a dangerous cross/shot which was just a yard too far for Gelhardt at the back post.
At the other end O’Nien had to be alert to clear up a mistake from Patterson before the lads again broke dangerously though Roberts’ cross was again just out of reach for Gelhardt. Lynden Gooch then curled the loose ball wide of the post. A few minutes later the visitors took the lead just after the ten minute mark. Sunderland were too slack in midfield and the ball was slipped forward to Ozan Tufan who fired a unstoppable shot into the top right hand corner.
The visitors went close five minutes later with a ball played in behind Sunderland’s defence on the left. Gooch was caught static by the ball from Coyle down the right to Sayyadmanesh who crossed for Traore who clipped a shot over the bar. Five minutes later Anthony Patterson had to make a great save after Sunderland were again carved open before the lads went down the other end and equalised.
The lads broke down the left with Clarke surging forward before Amad was found in the box. He rode a challenge before playing the ball to Clarke before the ball eventually fell to Gelhardt who turned the ball into the back of the net. A minute later the lads took the lead through Amad as a crazy couple of minutes took place after he swept the lads ahead.
Just as Sunderland looked to be in control the visitors levelled despite the best efforts of Anthony Patterson. He did well to make a great save to deny Hull after Sunderland were again played through far too easily but Sayyadmanesh did well to side foot the ball first time into the back of the net off the underside of the cross bar from a tight angle.
Sunderland then had a shout for a penalty waved away after Amad tumbled in the box to round off an eventful opening half hour. The madness of the opening stages faded as the half drew to a close with both sides tightening up at the back epitomised by a crunching tackle from Danny Baath on the half way line five minutes before half time. There was three minutes added time where Luke O’Nien crashed a cross into the side netting before the ref blew for the break. Neither manager made any changes at half time before the visitors restarted the game kicking towards the Roker End.
Sunderland had the first chance of the second half when Neil found Amad on the edge of the box but he had one touch too many and his shot was blocked. Ten minutes later Sunderland went close after a free kick from the left was headed as clear only as far as Dan Neil on the edge of the box but his dipping volley just went wide of the target. With half an hour to go we won a free kick on the right wing after Amad was fouled. Jack Clarke whipped a decent cross into the box onto the head of Baath but the keeper managed to gather.
With 25 minutes left Hull took the lead through Regan Slater. Five minutes later Sunderland drew level from the penalty spot after Jack Clarke was tripped in the box. Amad stepped up and found the back of the net although the keeper touched it onto the inside of the post.
Tony Mowbray then made his first changes of the evening with Pritchard and Ekwah replacing Gelhardt and Michut. Pritchard was involved immediately finding Clarke on the left who squared for Hume in the box who was denied by a world class save from the keeper who tipped his shot onto the bar.
Sunderland did take the lead a couple of minutes later through Jack Clarke when the pendulum swing again. The lads broke down the right with Amad playing the ball infield to Roberts who teed up Clarke to slot the ball into the back of the net. Clarke should have sealed the game two minutes later but be blazed over after being played clean through on goal by Amad.
There was five minutes added time and in the final one of these the drama continued after a stupid challenge in the box from Ekwah saw the ref pointing to the spot for Hull. Tofun made no mistake from the spot with the final kick of the game blasting the ball past Patterson into the bottom corner.
Final Score - Sunderland 4 Hull City 4
ALS Man of the Match - Jack Clarke
