Salis’ Sunderland Secure Premier League Return with Last-Gasp Wembley Thriller
Teenager Tom Watson scored a dramatic 95th-minute winner to seal Sunderland’s return to the Premier League, edging Sheffield United 2–1 in a gripping Championship play-off final at Wembley.
The 19-year-old, who joins Brighton & Hove Albion next season, curled a low effort past Michael Cooper in stoppage time to send the Black Cats back to the top flight after an eight-year absence.
It was a stunning end to a game where Sunderland had been second best for long spells. Tyrese Campbell gave the Blades a deserved first-half lead after a blistering counter-attack, and Harrison Burrows thought he had doubled the advantage, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside interference by Vinicius Souza.
Sunderland clung on and finally struck back in the 76th minute through Eliezer Mayenda, who finished well following a clever pass from substitute Patrick Roberts. With United down to 10 men—having used all five substitutes—after Anel Ahmedhodzic left the pitch with a head injury, Watson seized his moment, capitalising on a misplaced pass to curl home the winner from the edge of the box.
Promotion marks an extraordinary turnaround for Sunderland, who finished 16th last season. Appointing little-known French coach Régis Le Bris last summer raised few expectations, but the team began with four straight wins in August and never dropped below fourth.
Their play-off path included a dramatic semi-final victory over Coventry City, sealed by a last-gasp Dan Ballard goal in extra time. Remarkably, Sunderland have done it with one of the league’s youngest squads—Luke O’Nien was the only player over 25 in the Wembley starting XI, with Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg still in their teens.
In contrast, Sheffield United fielded a team with 294 Premier League appearances and carried the burden of nine previous play-off failures. Despite their relegation from the top flight last season and a turbulent campaign marked by a two-point deduction and the tragic passing of former player George Baldock, manager Chris Wilder led them to 90 points.
Their automatic promotion hopes slipped away in April after a disastrous run of defeats, but they regrouped to dismantle Bristol City in the semi-finals. At Wembley, they looked poised to finally break their play-off curse.
Early on, Gustavo Hamer—named Championship Player of the Year—dictated play, setting up Campbell’s opener and playing a role in the disallowed goal. Kieffer Moore’s header was brilliantly saved by Anthony Patterson, though the stop forced captain O’Nien off with a dislocated shoulder.
Andre Brooks had a golden chance to finish the game midway through the second half but was denied by Patterson. With Hamer later limping off, Sunderland found a late surge. Mayenda’s equaliser cracked the door open; Watson’s strike blew it off its hinges.
As Sunderland celebrated their Premier League return, United were left to reckon with a 10th play-off failure and a Wembley hoodoo stretching back to 1925—a season of promise ending in heartbreak.
Credit: BBC
