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OTD: SAFC 1 MCFC 0



On New Year's Day 2012, Ji Dong-Won sent Sunderland fans into elation with a last-gasp winner against Manchester City.


Sunderland went into the game with no fullbacks (sound familiar?), with Craig Gardner and Jack Colback deputising in the wide defensive areas.


City started with star striker Sergio Aguero on the bench alongside future Sunderland shotstopper Costel Pantilimon.


Nicklas Bendtner and Stephane Sessegnon came close either side of half time, but City thought they'd broke the deadlock twice when Edin Dzeko and Micah Richards both hit the woodwork.


In the dying seconds of the game, Sessegnon played Ji through and the striker rounded Joe Hart as cool as a cucumber, slotting home the winner.


It was Martin O'Neill's third win in five matches in charge of Sunderland, taking the lads up to 13th in the Premier League.


After early pressure from Sunderland, City got control of possession and began to dominate. However, a steely defensive display from the Black Cats, particularly from our two stand-in fullbacks, limited Mancini's side to half-chances for the most part.


Dzeko came close as he clipped the crossbar following a corner. Samir Nasri's goalbound effort was also cleared by Gardner, who went up the other end and fired an effort over the bar.


Aguero was introduced at half time, with David Silva closely following behind.


The subs had a big impact on City, who began to create more chances. The Argentinian had a close-range effort denied by Simon Mignolet before Silva also tested the Belgian.


Micah Richards' late header came back off the crossbar, but Sunderland remained resolute at the back. Dzeko squandered several chances to find the net, and City's poor form in front of goal proved costly when Sunderland broke forward. Ji played a smart one-two with Sessegnon, and rounded the onrushing Hart. The South Korean was the calmest man in the stadium, as the SoL erupted with delight as Ji stole all three points, although there was a slight suggestion of offside...


The moment went down in Sunderland history, with Martin Tyler's commentary becoming famous around Wearside.


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