Eliezer Mayenda scored a late winner as Sunderland flipped the form book on its head to beat Coventry 2-1 and steal a march in their Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final.
Despite finishing seven points ahead of their opponents, Sunderland’s form had flat-lined towards the end of the regular season with five successive defeats and just one goal in a six-game winless streak.
But, after defending resolutely against a side they had lost 3-0 to in March, Sunderland were clinical on the counter-attack and Mayenda’s 88th-minute goal gave the Black Cats a 2-1 victory.
Wilson Isidor had put Sunderland ahead after 68 minutes but while their opponents were level within 110 seconds thanks to Jack Rudoni, Mayenda had the final say at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
We take a one-goal advantage back to the Stadium of Light! 👊#TilTheEnd pic.twitter.com/K1OrcrTYQP
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) May 9, 2025
Coventry had won seven of their last eight matches at home but they will now need to pick themselves up for Tuesday’s second leg at the Stadium of Light as they bid for a second play-off final in three years.
Sunderland’s lack of confidence was epitomised early on by Anthony Patterson flapping horribly and cleaning out a couple of his own defenders following Jay Dasilva’s innocuous header back into the area.
But as Haji Wright, Coventry’s hat-trick hero against Sunderland just a few weeks ago, tripped, the covering Luke O’Nien spared his goalkeeper’s blushes, clearing just a couple of feet from his own line.
The visitors, though, were largely content to soak up pressure and frustrate Coventry, while the half-chances were squandered as Ben Sheaf sliced wide from a decent position and Matt Grimes volleyed over.
Mayenda demonstrated Sunderland’s counter-attacking threat by bursting forward from his own half, shrugging off Liam Kitching’s challenge before firing just wide, with Ben Wilson well beaten.
For all of Coventry’s possession, that was the best chance of the half and the pattern continued after the interval, with Brandon Thomas-Asante unable to get on top of Dasilva’s cross as he headed over.
At the other end, Jobe Bellingham worked himself into an excellent position but struck team-mate Dan Ballard before Sunderland were rewarded from another break with Isidor finishing with aplomb.
The Frenchman ghosted into space down Sunderland’s left and latched on to Enzo Le Fee’s ball behind the Coventry defence before racing unchallenged into area and firing across a helpless Wilson.
How big could this goal be?! ⏱️#EFLPlayOffs | #StepUppic.twitter.com/040DbKxn0i https://t.co/bOEINjwjoU
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) May 9, 2025
Perhaps in disbelief at their first goal in four matches, with Isidor ending a drought stretching back to February, Sunderland were uncharacteristically loose and conceded within two minutes of going ahead.
Milan van Ewijk, perhaps guilty of allowing Isidor too much space a couple of minutes earlier, raced to the byline and directed a cross for an unmarked Rudoni to head home his fourth goal in three games.
While the crowd erupted and the hosts pushed forward at every opportunity, Sunderland showed they were not settling for a draw as Patrick Roberts curled narrowly wide before Mayenda struck.
The 20-year-old took advantage of a wayward pass back from Van Ewijk to get to the ball first, round Wilson, who had hared out of his area, and coolly dispatched into an empty net.
Coventry manager Frank Lampard said his side need no reminding that their promotion hopes are still alive despite a deflating defeat by Sunderland.The Black Cats flipped the form book on its head in the first leg of the Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final, ending a five-match losing run with a 2-1 victory at the Coventry Building Society Arena.Second-half goals from Wilson Isidor and Eliezer ...
Brian Graham netted a match-winning brace including his 100th goal for Partick Thistle as the Jags claimed a dramatic play-off quarter-final victory over Ayr United.Thistle trailed 1-0 from the first leg at Firhill, but Graham headed home after six minutes to level matters on aggregate.The tie looked destined for extra time after both sides passed up opportunities in the second half, before the Ja...
Xabi Alonso has confirmed that he is leaving Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season, with the Spanish coach expected to join Real Madrid.In a news conference on Friday, Alonso -- who has spent three years at Leverkusen, guiding them to a historic undefeated league campaign in 2023-24 as part of a domestic double -- said that he will depart after his team's two remaining Bundesliga games.Alonso ...
Jonathan Tah is set to spark a major transfer war this summer as he nears a departure from Bayer Leverkusen when his contract expires on June 30.The German international has emerged as a top target for FC Barcelona, with the club having been working on a deal for him since last year.However, there have been delays in making the agreement with the 29-year-old defender formal due to Financial Fair P...
The Spain star has been identified as Mikel Arteta's priority midfield target and he is set to join international team-mates David Raya and Mikel Merino at the Emirates Stadium this summer.FootballTransfers has been informed that Zubimendi has told Real Sociedad that he will leave the club once the 2024-25 campaign concludes, and he is expected to become Arsenal's first signing of the summer trans...
Napoli ready to battle Atletico Madrid for Darwin NunezDarwin Nunez could be a target for multiple European giants this summer, with Napoli and Atletico Madrid reportedly interested in the Uruguayan.Rogers open to exit amid Premier League interestAston Villa's Morgan Rogers could be on the move this summer, with TEAMtalk reporting that the midfielder is attracting interest from Chelsea, Liverpool,...
Ruben Amorim felt Manchester United’s fighting spirit helped mask their weaknesses as Mason Mount inspired a comeback victory against Athletic Bilbao to help set up an “all or nothing” Europa League final against Tottenham.The Red Devils overcame a slow start to win 3-0 at a stunned San Mames and did so again having stuttered in Thursday’s semi-final second leg at Old Traff...
Ange Postecoglou launched an impassioned rant against Tottenham’s critics after a 2-0 win over Bodo/Glimt sent them through to the Europa League final to keep the club on course to end their 17-year trophy drought.Spurs have not celebrated winning silverware since their 2008 League Cup success but set up an all-English final with Manchester United in Bilbao on May 21 with second-half goals b...
Chris Wilder and Liam Manning disagreed over the red card for Rob Dickie that proved the turning point in Sheffield United’s 3-0 play-off win at Bristol City.The Blades took a huge step towards the Sky Bet Championship play-off final as Harrison Burrows – converting from the spot after Dickie had felled Kieffer Moore – and second-half substitutes Andre Brooks and Callum O’H...
Manchester United will face Tottenham in an all-or-nothing Europa League final after substitute Mason Mount’s magical brace helped secure a 4-1 comeback win against battling Athletic Bilbao.Last week’s fantastic 3-0 semi-final first-leg win at San Mames put the Red Devils within touching distance of a return to Bilbao for the May 21 showpiece, but Ruben Amorim’s side rarely do th...
- 1 McTominay set to lose MILLIONS after loaning cash to collapsed firm run by Wag
- 2 St Johnstone’s Scottish Premiership survival hopes dented by loss to Kilmarnock
- 3 Joe Garner bags brace as Oldham go into play-offs with win over downed Ebbsfleet
- 4 Kevin Schade’s double proves decisive as Brentford see off Manchester United
- 5 Ruben Amorim believes fighting spirit carried Man Utd to Europa League final
- 6 Daily Laugh - Finally. Good job Kane.
- 7 Liverpool want Julian Alvarez to replace Nunez
- 8 Adam Idah equalises for Celtic as Rangers are denied third straight derby win
- 9 Daily Laugh - Bye Arsenal, PSG to UCL Final
- 10 World’s sexiest tennis influencer Rachel Stuhlmann in leggy