Premier League 2
Sunderland U21 5 (Abdullahi 3’, 57’; H Jones 47’, Whittaker 77’, Waters 90’)
Leeds United U21 2 (Cresswell 59’, Vincent 70’)
Sunderland: Cowan (GK), J Jones, Lightfoot, J Jones, Holcroft, Kindon, Ba (Geragusian 46’), H Jones (C) (Waters 63’), Abdullahi (Dinsdale 63’), Aleksic (Hunt 63’), Whittaker. Subs not used: Hamilton-Forsyth.
Leeds: Mahady (GK), Lane, Lienou, Pickles, Howard, Matykiewicz, Vincent, Crew (Mensah 62’), Ibrovic-Fletcher (Alker 71’), Cresswell (C), Chadwick. Subs not used: Cook (GK), Philpott, Whitehead.
Venue: Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground
Referee: Dean Watson
Booked: Holcroft, Jenson Jones (Sunderland) Howard, Chadwick, Lienou (Leeds)
Leeds United Under-21s fell to defeat at Sunderland Under-21s in the Premier League 2, despite second half goals from Alfie Cresswell and Harvey Vincent.
The hosts took the lead inside the opening few minutes courtesy of forward Ahmed Abdullahi who latched onto a loose ball and fired a powerful effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
The attacker then went close to adding a quickfire second as he raced in behind but the retreating Jacob Howard did enough to ensure the resulting strike sailed high and wide.
After a tough start to the encounter, the Whites drove forward themselves through Vincent down the right flank. Crossing low into the middle, his delivery was hacked away by Finlay Holcroft before a blue shirt could pounce.
A looping ball into the middle by Vincent then did reach a teammate in Edward Ibrovic-Fletcher. Powering a header at goal, the forward forced a fine save by Joseph Cowan.
Leeds were threatening an equaliser and the Black Cats’ stopper had to be alert as he scampered out to collect a Vincent cross before, down the other end, Rory Mahady made a fine diving save to parry Milan Aleksic’s curling shot.
Just after the half-hour mark, great tenacity by Rhys Chadwick released Charlie Crew down the left. The Wales international then found Ibrovic-Fletcher with an inventive through ball though Cowan was equal to the forward’s right-footed attempt.
Sunderland had chances to grab a second through Jaydon Jones and Abdullahi before referee Dean Watson brought proceedings to a halt.
HALF TIME: Sunderland U21 1-0 Leeds United U21
Gardner’s side emerged from the interval unchanged as they searched for a route back into the clash on Wearside but that hope was dented just minutes into the second half when Harrison Jones extended the hosts’ lead.
Two would have become three moments later if not for a superb save by Mahady’s outstretched boot, somehow diverting the Black Cats skipper’s close-range strike over the crossbar.
Abdullahi did add to Sunderland’s advantage shortly before the hour mark after pouncing on a loose ball inside the area and scrambling home from yards out.
Not to be dispirited by the scoreline, United reduced the arrears almost immediately. Lienou fizzed a pass into Chadwick on the left who floated a dangerous cross to the back post where Cresswell was on hand to stoop and find the back of the net.
Searching for a second, an enticing delivery from Vincent on the right was met on the volley by Ibrovic-Fletcher, cannoning off a red and white shirt and bouncing behind.
From the resulting set-piece, Vincent rose highest at the back post to meet a deep, swirling corner and powered in a second.
Dreams of a momentous comeback were put to bed, however, when Jack Whittaker drilled a low strike beyond Mahady and into the far corner after an incisive Sunderland move.
Deep into stoppage time, substitute Jake Waters added another for the home side before the encounter drew to a close.
The Whites are back in PL2 action next Monday as they welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the LNER Community Stadium.
FULL TIME: Sunderland U21 5-2 Leeds United U21
