Sunderland drew their penultimate game of pre-season against La Liga opposition at the Stadium of Light.
A goal early into the first half by Luis Hemir gave the Black Cats the lead, but Mallorca’s goal came shortly after the break.
The game would finish one goal apiece but not before Mallorca were reduced to ten players in the closing stages.
The first chance of the game fell to the home side as Patrick Roberts passed it into Hemir, who then laid it off to Pierre Ekwah outside of the box. The shot was saved and Hemir’s rebound chance was blocked and a corner resulted.
The corner was played short to Roberts who crossed it into Hemir, he nodded home in the fourth minute to make it 1-0. The Portuguese striker will certainly be hoping his pre-season form can translate into the Championship when we face Ipswich.
Roberts was involved in more action, he lost and then won the ball in quick succession. Eventually Jack Clarke ended up with the ball and he just about got around two defenders before his shot at close range on the left side of the box was blocked.
Dan Ballard blocked a shot after Jobe Bellingham gave the ball away due to a heavy touch, Bellingham nearly scored himself but was prevented by defenders after latching onto a long ball from Patterson.
Mallorca had a shot sail well over from outside the box, and Luke O’Nien snuffed out another chance by shoving an attacker over in the box. Bellingham later did some good work dribbling, and passed it to Trai Hume on the right wing. Hume’s cross just skimmed over Hemir’s head and landed at Clarke, his shot being blocked.
At halftime it was 1-0 to Sunderland.
Early on, Mallorca whipped a ball into the box, the waiting attacker couldn’t quite make contact with it though.
A few minutes later Mallorca equalised as another cross was then headed home into the top right corner of the box, Vedat Muriqi was the goalscorer.
A third cross was then volleyed well-wide by a Mallorca attacker. Mallorca continued their dominance of the second half, one of their attackers broke free on the right wing, his cross was headed low past the left post.
Bellingham almost broke through but the low ball by Roberts was smothered by the goalkeeper before that could happen.
Chris Rigg threatened but was brought down and won a free kick on the edge of the right side of the box, Ekwah sent it over everyone though. Abdoullah Ba then whipped in a couple balls into the box, one was clumsily cleared and another was jabbed away. Hume then tried his luck from distance, but it sailed over.
There was late drama as Luke O’Nien was fouled heavily via a sliding tackle from behind. The Mallorca man was sent over through a straight red and a massive scuffle ensued.
Niall Huggins made a brilliant run forward, the attack that resulted was stopped by the goalkeeper though. Ba passed it to Dan Neil on the edge of the box, his shot fired over and that was the last action of the game.
Full-time: Sunderland 1-1 Real Mallorca.
Sunderland XI: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, O’Nien, Cirkin, Neil, Ekwah, Roberts, Bellingham, Clarke, Hemir.
ALS Man of the Match: Hemir gets man of the match, he once again caused havoc for the opposition by going toe-to-toe with the back line and he utilised his aerial abilities to great effect with a well-taken goal.
