Sunderland end eight-year wait to return to Premier League with dramatic Championship play-off win

Sunderland have ended their eight-year wait to return to the Premier League after beating Sheffield United with an injury time winner in the Championship play-off final.

Tyrese Campbell initially gave Sheffield United a 1-0 lead over Sunderland 25 minutes into the first half.

The goal came after a short corner went wrong for Sunderland, resulting in the ball being headed away by Sheffield’s defence.

Sheffield’s Gustavo Hamer sprinted up the pitch and threaded a pass into the middle to Campbell, who lobbed the ball over the goalie and into the net.

The Blades nearly extended their lead ten minutes later, when Harrison Burrows shot through a crowd of bodies and into the bottom corner, but the goal was disallowed as the VAR ruled that United’s Vinicius Souza was impacting the view of Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson.

Sunderland had 64.20% possession in the first half, but only landed one of a total of two shots on target, while Sheffield managed double, with both shots landing in the net.

Eliezer Mayenda finally managed the equaliser for Sunderland to even the score to 1-1 in the 76th minute, leaving Sheffield players down on the ground punching the floor.

Tom Watson then scored in injury time to secure Sunderland’s victory and promotion to the Premier League.

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