Premier League Cup

Leeds United 3 (Summerville 9’, 21’, 35’)

Sunderland 3 (Dunne 57’, Kelly 79’, Kachosa 90’)

Leeds: Klaesson (GK), Drameh (Moore 45’), Ferguson, Coleman, Littlewood, Debayo, Summerville (McKinstry 45’), Gray, Dean, Greenwood (c) (Jenkins 45’), Miller. Subs not used: Van Den Heuvel (GK), Mullen.

Sunderland: Carney (GK), Kachosa, Newall, Sohna, Younger (c), Xhemajli, Dunne, Scott, Taylor, Kelly, Dyce (Johnson 45’). Subs not used: McIntyre (GK), Jones, Gyimah. 

Venue: LNER Community Stadium, York

Referee: Mr A. Miller

Booked: Miller (Leeds) Scott (Sunderland)

Mark Jackson’s side played their fourth game of the Premier League Cup, taking on Sunderland in a match full of goals.  

The previous game between the two in Group E saw the Black Cats run out 2-1 winners at the Stadium of Light. Going into the game, Leeds sat one point behind their opponents, with three group games remaining including this one. 

The Whites started the game on the front foot and were instantly on the attack. Early pressure from Crysencio Summerville would set the tone for the half, with him being brought down by the Sunderland defence a couple of times early on.

The visitors did have an early chance of their own, forcing Kristoffer Klaesson into a good save before Cieran Dunne hit the post with a header on the rebound.

Just moments after that chance though, Leeds went into the lead. After Cody Drameh’s ball into the box landed for Summerville to control, the winger showed composure and finesse to curl the ball into the top corner. 

Against his former club, Sam Greenwood was looking dangerous both with his own chances and creating them for others. From a trademark free-kick situation, the United captain struck over the bar when looking to make it two.

Leeds didn’t have to wait long to double their advantage though, and it was Summerville again. Max Dean controlled Klaesson’s goal-kick on his chest on the half way line, then played the ball in behind the defence for the winger to race onto and calmly slot into the net for two. 

Greenwood would then go close for a second time as he played a part in making it three. Once again Dean created the chance for the striker, who saw his effort stopped by Jacob Carney, only for Summerville to be in the right place to slot home the rebound and complete his hat-trick! 

In what had been a dominant first 45 minutes from Leeds in this Premier League Cup encounter, they deservedly went into the interval with a three goal lead to show for their efforts. 

HALF TIME: Leeds United 3-0 Sunderland

Both teams went to their bench to bring on new faces for the second half. Leeds made a triple change as Greenwood, Summerville and Drameh, who had all contributed heavily, were replaced by Jack Jenkins, Stuart McKinstry and Kris Moore. Sunderland swapped Tyrese Dyce with Zak Johnson. 

The Black Cats came out fighting in the second half, looking for a way back into the game. After Carney had been forced to make an early stop to deny an own goal being scored, the visitors enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure. 

They reduced the deficit to being two goals behind just over 10 minutes into the half when Dunne, who had been lively in the first half, finished low into the back of the net inside the box.

Inspired by the goal and on the front foot, the away side continued to attack. Arbenit Xhemajli found space in the area to head at goal but his effort was deflected just wide of the target. 

With 11 minutes to go, the gap was further reduced to one. A loose ball across the Leeds box fell kindly for Caden Kelly and he took the chance by sliding the ball into the bottom corner, setting up a frantic ending to the game. 

Then as the game was about to enter stoppage time, the comeback was completed. Racing forward with numbers, Ethan Kachosa was played into the box and finished to make the score level.

The full time whistle went shortly afterwards meaning both teams took a point from the cup clash, in what was a real game of two halves.  

FULL TIME: Leeds United 3-3 Sunderland