On this day in 2016, Sunderland earned a massive three points in the battle for Premier League survival by beating Manchester United 2-1 at the Stadium of Light. A first half goal from Wahbi Khazri and a second half own goal from David de Gea ensured the victory.
Sunderland lined up like this:
Vito Manone
DeAndre Yedlin
Lamine Kone
John O’Shea
Patrick van Aanholt
Jan Kirchhoff
Dame N’Doye
Lee Cattermole
Yan M’Vila
Wahbi Khazri
Jermain Defoe
Things got off to the best possible start when Wahbi Khazri’s free kick on the left side of the box found the back of the net. Jermain Defoe tried to tap it home but missed the ball and this sent Manchester United’s defence and goalkeeper the wrong way giving us the lead.
Jermain Defoe almost made it 2-0 but only managed a weak shot from around seven yards out.
Kirchhoff was forced off with a hamstring injury and replaced by eventual Sunderland villain Jack Rodwell.
Manone made a save with his throat for Manchester United’s first on target effort over half an hour into the game.
Curiously Matteo Darmian also had to come off because of an injury and future Sunderland man Donald Love came off the bench as a result.
Unfortunately the visitors were able to find the equaliser around five minutes before the break. Vito Manone managed to save an initial effort from Juan Mata but Antony Martial was there to fire home the rebound.
Early into the second half we really should have had a penalty as a Khazri cross made contact with Wayne Rooney’s outstretched hand.
A flurry of chances followed, with Defoe missing one before N’Doye and Khazri forced de Gea into action.
The Red Devils had their own chance to take the lead but Memphis Depay’s strike was prevented by the hands of Manone.
The winner came eight minutes from injury time. Khazri whipped in a great ball from a corner and Lamine Kone did well to get past Chris Smalling and direct a header downwards. David de Gea then fumbled the ball over the line and this clinched all three points for us.
This result saw us move to within one point of 17th place and we would of course go on to survive at the expense of Newcastle United, despite the fact we didn’t win any of our next six games in the Premier League following this win.
