Sunderland secured their return to the Premier League on Saturday after a thrilling 2-1 victory against Sheffield United in what is known as soccer’s “most valuable match” — the Championship play-off final.
Sheffield United took an early lead when Tyrese Campbell finished a swift counterattack, putting the Blades ahead 1-0 for much of the game. Despite creating several chances to extend their lead, Sheffield United failed to capitalize, allowing Sunderland to fight back.
The Black Cats leveled the score in the 76th minute when Eliezer Mayenda unleashed a powerful shot into the net. The comeback was completed in dramatic fashion deep into injury time when 19-year-old Tom Watson scored the winning goal, sparking wild celebrations at Wembley Stadium and marking Sunderland’s first Premier League promotion since 2017.
Since their relegation in 2017, Sunderland endured a difficult period that included four seasons in League One — a downturn chronicled in the popular Netflix documentary “Sunderland ‘Til I Die.” After securing promotion back to the Championship in 2022, they have now earned a spot alongside Leeds United and Burnley in the top flight for the upcoming season.
Reflecting on his match-winning goal, Watson, who will soon join Brighton, told broadcaster Sky Sports, “I think my celebration says it all. Just look around, it’s unbelievable. We’ll see each other in the Premier League next year. I’ve been thinking about it for weeks. My story was written when I came off the bench. I couldn’t have pictured it any better.”
Sunderland faced an early setback when club captain Luke O’Nien left the pitch with a shoulder injury after just two minutes. Nonetheless, goalkeeper Anthony Patterson made several crucial saves to keep the team in the game.
Sheffield United’s opening goal came in the 25th minute when Gustavo Hamer intercepted a Sunderland corner and quickly fed Campbell, who chipped the ball over the goalkeeper. The Blades celebrated wildly, knowing the Premier League promotion was at stake.
Sheffield United almost doubled their lead when Harrison Burrows scored, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a Video Assistant Referee review. Later, Patterson denied another clear goal-scoring opportunity, keeping Sunderland in contention.
The momentum shifted in Sunderland’s favor as they pieced together a strong attack that culminated in Mayenda’s equalizer. O’Nien, despite his injury, joined in the celebrations, joking that he covered more ground celebrating than he did playing.
The late winner from Watson in the 95th minute completed a historic comeback, making Sunderland the first team in 29 years to win the Championship play-off final after trailing at halftime. The victory sent fans into euphoria and marked a significant milestone in the club’s resurgence.
