FA Premier Academy League Final : Sunderland U18s 2, Leicester City U18s 2.
After dominating most of the game and creating all the best chances, Sunderland were unlucky to be beaten in a penalty shoot out at the Stadium of Light yesterday.
They had shown character to come back from being 2-1 down at the break but despite hitting the post and the bar, the honour of champions went to Leicester City who only had two clear chances throughout.
The game exploded into life with two goals in the first five minutes. The Foxes came out flying and took a third minute lead through Max Gradel's low.
But within four minutes, Sunderland were level when Jordan Henderson's inswinging corner from the left curled into the roof of the net at the far post.
More was to follow when Sunderland's Josh Home-Jackson side footed against the post completely unopposed from three yards after City keeper Karl Pentney had spilled Dave Dowson's strike.
Sunderland's left sided Nathan Luscombe was dangerous throughout and following his tricky run into the area, it was Holme-Jackson again who stabbed a loose ball wide from close range but City made the hosts pay for their profligity three minutes before the break when they regained the lead when Billy McKay swept home past Sunderland keeper Trevor Carson from four yards.
However, Sunderland came out to recover from the setback and, with the backing of a 4,597 crowd, dominated the second period.
Luscombe delivered a stream of dangerous centres from both flanks before creating the leveller ten minutes from time. Luscombe's cross to captain Robbie Weir who thumped a downward header into the net from close range to take the game into extra time.
During this period, there looked to be only winner. Many more chances were spurned but many saved by some desperate defending too - yet Kevin Ball's team were unlucky not to clinch a win two minutes from the end of an intriguing, stimulating game.
Striker Dowson rose to meet Chandler's right side cross, only to see his header hit the bar.
But a deserved victory was not to be and it was Leicester who stayed cool to win the battle of nerves in the penalty shoot out. They converted four (Chambers, Odhiambo, Gradel and Mattock) with three converted by the dejected home side (Waghorn, Luscombe and Kay) with Colback and Donoghue missing out.
Ball said afterwards: "Honestly I think we were the better side and Leicester were somewhat fortunate. We had so many chances and played some tremendous football - we have so much to be proud of."
Sunderland U18s (4-4-2): Carson, Kay, Donoghue, McArdle, Liddle, Henderson (Cook 101), Weir (Chandler 97), Colback, Luscombe, Dowson, Home-Jackson (Waghorn 75). Subs not used: Backhouse, Madden.
Referee: G Brittain
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