A last minute header in extra time from Dan Ballard saw Sunderland defeat Coventry City on aggregate to go into the Play-Off Final at Wembley against Sheffield United. Daniel Wales reports from the Stadium of Light.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Till the end. That is the motto used by Sunderland as a club during their play-off campaign so far.
00:10And against Coventry at the Stadium of Light, it could not have rang more true.
00:16Well, what a night here at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.
00:20Probably the best night that this stadium has experienced in nearly 10 years since Sunderland were last in the Premier League.
00:28Scenes of utter joy, pandemonium, disbelief even, following the full-time whistle and Dan Ballard's header that saw Sunderland book their place at Wembley in the play-off final.
00:38Let's go back over the game now to see just how Sunderland got themselves to within touching distance of a return to the Premier League after so many years away from it.
00:49Around two hours before kick-off, the area outside of the stadium was already packed with supporters.
00:55All waiting for the Sunderland team coach to arrive.
00:59When it did, it was engulfed in a sea of red and white, with the players being given a rousing reception.
01:06Supporters, young and old, were all there to roar on their team.
01:30And hopefully inspire them to what would be a famous victory at the Stadium of Light.
01:38As the players entered the arena just before kick-off, a black cat emerged from the south stand.
01:44Sunderland were ready.
01:46The game, as expected though, was nervy and tense, with tempers flaring at every possible opportunity.
01:53Goalless it remained at half-time, with Sunderland just about maintaining their slender advantage from the first leg.
02:02But then, midway through the second disaster, when Efron Mason-Clark tapped home from across to see Coventry equalise on aggregate
02:11and sent the game heading towards another 30 minutes in extra time.
02:16Some had seen it all before with Sunderland, whilst others could not bear to watch a minute longer.
02:25Extra time wore on and still no further goals.
02:29It seemed like neither side were capable of taking that extra step.
02:34Prayers were being offered, but would they be answered for Sunderland?
02:37And then, with the clock reading 121 minutes and 59 seconds, a corner was swung in by Enzo Le Fay and was met by Dan Ballard.
02:50Cue ecstasy on Wearside.
02:56Moments later, the final whistle was blown and Sunderland had done it, with head coach Regis Labrice attempting to summarise just what had happened.
03:04At the end of the game, to score just this late equaliser and to win the opportunity to play at Wembley was absolutely fantastic.
03:18We played football for these emotions, I think.
03:21Before that, yeah, it was a tough game.
03:25I think Coventry played a really good football and they are really strong, especially with the ball.
03:32And they controlled the game.
03:35We were between two attitudes.
03:37Do we need to protect our goal?
03:38Because we were 1-0 up after the first leg.
03:43Probably, we are a bit nervous.
03:46We have a young team and it's not easy to manage these moments.
03:52But we were really well connected.
03:54We defended.
03:55We felt a strong energy within the team.
03:58Yes, my biggest emotion is pride of how they played for two games.
04:04Two games, a better team.
04:06Of course, congratulations Sunderland.
04:07They go through and scored in the last kick of the game or head of the game.
04:11If the emotions here at the Stadium of Light tonight weren't already enough for those of a Sunderland persuasion,
04:16they will only get more and more intense at Wembley in a couple of weeks' time when they meet Sheffield United in the capital on the 24th of May
04:24to see who secures that final spot in the Premier League alongside Leeds and Burnley.
04:29Sunderland have not played in England's top division since 2017, but tonight they got themselves just that little bit closer.
04:35Can they do it? That remains to be seen.
04:38But for now, Sunderland supporters will enjoy this moment and get ready for their date at Wembley.