Sunderland extended their winning streak in pre-season to four games as they defeated USL Championship side New Mexico United at Isotopes Park.
The Black Cats found themselves 2-0 up going into the break, courtesy of goals from Pierre Ekwah and Luis Hemir.
Isaac Lihadji made it 3-0 midway through the second half and then a late fight-back from New Mexico finalised the score line at 3-2.
New Mexico had the first chance of the game early on when a shot was fired well-over the crossbar from the right hand side outside of the box.
Hemir then hit the side-netting after latching onto a pass from Alex Pritchard, from a tight angle.
A separate set of chances for Sunderland followed. Lihadji had a shot blocked and the New Mexico keeper had to punch it away after the ball bobbled dangerously around Hemir at close range.
Matthew Young was called into action when a mistake by Nectarios Triantis led to a shot on the edge of the penalty area. Young parried it away and then collected the ball.
Young made another save shortly after. The New Mexico attacker cutting inside towards the right side of the box, Luke O’Nien headed it back towards the 16-year-old succeeding the initial save, who calmly caught the ball.
Pritchard struck the side-netting and not long after had a shot loop over the bar.
Young produced a wonderful save to tip a powerful strike over the bar, to keep the score level.
Pritchard passed it into Hemir, following some good midfield work by Ekwah. His shot was saved however, and the resulting corner was just inches away.
Ekwah’s moment of magic came in the 39th minute, a thunderous shot outside of the box sailed into the top right corner, almost ripping the net off its frame. 1-0 to the Lads.
Pritchard earned an assist, he crossed a ball directly onto the head of Hemir (this is becoming common in pre-season) who aptly nodded and scored to double the advantage. This happened in first-half injury time.
New Mexico had two shots blocked shortly after the restart for the second half, a free kick and a shot that resulted from a corner.
Triantis was unfortunate to not score via a header, which was blocked just ahead of the line.
Sunderland would make it three in the 66th minute, an O’Nien cross found Trai Hume on the edge of the right side of the six yard box. Hume passed it into Lihadji, the Frenchman’s initial attempt was blocked but he fired the rebound home.
The Albuquerque-based team almost reduced the deficit, a free-kick led to the ball being well-inside the area, but no one could direct it into the net.
Milo Garvanian did manage to score for New Mexico two minutes before injury time began, albeit largely from luck. His shot deflected massively by Ballard, causing it to loop over Young and into the goal.
The last act of the game was another goal far into added time from a New Mexico penalty. Hume conceded the penalty, a weak push in his defence, and Isaac Zuleta fired it home just right of the middle of the net.
Final score: New Mexico United 2-3 Sunderland AFC
Sunderland starting XI: Young, Hume, Ballard, Triantis, O’Nien, Neil, Ekwah, Lihadji, Pritchard, Ba, Hemir.
