Premier League
Sunderland 0
Leeds United 0
Sunderland: Roefs (GK), Brobbey (Tutierov 65’), Angulo (Talbi 79’), Rigg, O’Nien, Reinildo, Mukiele (Alderete 52’), Sadiki, Le Fée (Diarra 79’), Hume, Xhaka (C). Subs not used: Ellborg (GK), Methalie, Ahoka, Fofana, Riquelme.
Leeds: Trafford (GK), Bogle, Gudmundsson, Ampadu (C), Muharemović, Calvert-Lewin (Nmecha 85’), Wilson (Stach 65’), Aaronson (Okafor 65’), Bijol, Tanaka (Longstaff 89’), Justin. Subs not used: Zetterer (GK), Bahoya, Bard, Gruev, Cresswell.
Venue: Stadium of Light | Attendance: 46,182 | Referee: Stuart Attwell | Booked: Reinildo (Sunderland) Ampadu, Bogle (Leeds)
Neither Sunderland nor Leeds United could find the necessary magic to settle a scrappy affair in challenging conditions.
As Wearside still faced the full brunt of Storm Boelo, action got underway at a windswept Stadium of Light with Daniel Farke having made three changes to the starting XI. In came Brenden Aaronson, Harry Wilson and Jaka Bijol.
In a somewhat humdrum opening, no doubt owing to the conditions, Jayden Bogle had the first sight of goal with an effort he dragged wide of the upright from the edge of the area. Then, from a similar position down the other end, Brian Brobbey forced James Trafford into a diving save.
Shortly afterwards, the England international was called upon to intervene once more, racing out to brilliantly smother a Brobbey chance after the Sunderland forward darted in behind United’s backline.
Approaching the half-hour mark and the hosts began to enjoy spells of possession and were looking to pace on the flanks to create an opening. Leeds’ defence stood firm however and soaked up the pressure well, heading several deliveries away from danger.
Before the break, Dominic Calvert-Lewin almost had an opening as a bouncing ball caused the Mackems problems but at full-stretch, the retreating Luke O’Nien did just about enough to poke the ball back to Robin Roefs, in the final meaningful action of an otherwise attritional affair.
HALF TIME: Sunderland 0-0 Leeds United
Farke’s men emerged from the interval unchanged and had an early opportunity after Jayden Bogle’s inviting cross narrowly evaded Calvert-Lewin and raced through to the onrushing Gabriel Gudmundsson who lashed a wayward effort over the upright.
A line-splitting Ethan Ampadu pass then released James Justin though the defender’s low ball into the middle was hacked away by a red and white shirt. Attacking a Wilson corner-kick, Tarik Muharemović was next to go close, powering a header on target which Roefs gathered.
With the game beginning to spark into life, Trafford made a fine save diving to his left to parry Nilson Angulo’s powerful whipped strike from distance. Jaka Bijol also made an important block to deny Chris Rigg for the Black Cats.
First activity from the United dugout introduced Anton Stach and Noah Okafor into the action, replacing Wilson and Aaronson respectively. Leeds were still having to defend, however, and Bijol and Ampadu were both on hand to charge down Sunderland shots.
On the break, the Whites worked it into Ao Tanaka on the edge of the area. Twisting one way and then the other, the Japanese international drilled a low attempt towards the bottom corner which Roefs parried before collecting as Calvert-Lewin looked to pounce.
With five minutes remaining, Lukas Nmecha entered proceedings and found himself in the thick of the action late on as fellow substitute Sean Longstaff shot against him in the Sunderland box. The midfielder also drew a save from Roefs and Okafor had a pair of efforts blocked as Leeds pushed for a late winner that never came.
FULL TIME: Sunderland 0-0 Leeds United
