On Sunday 4th January 2015 i headed to the Stadium of Light to see Sunderland and Leeds United go head to head in the FA Cup Third Round Clash. We set off from Cross Key's Pub, Wath, Rotherham at 7.15am and arrived at Ralph Fitz Randal, Richmond at about 9am to eat breakfast ahead of the game. We left Richmond shortly after 11am and arrived at the Stadium of Light 12.36am ahead of the 1pm kick-off. Due to 5,000 Leeds fans trying to get into the Stadium i missed the first 10 minutes of the match.
Once inside the stadium and at my seat Sunderland were the looking the more likely to open the scoring and Steven Fletcher wasted a good chance to put them infront when Patrick van Aanholt's left wing cross came in the striker hit over the bar from close range.
Casper Sloth who came back into the side after not playing since November when he came off the bench v Charlton had to block a header from Santiago Vergini’s on the line. Moments after that and it was van Aanholt who opened the scoring after he drilled a ball cross the box into the bottom corner past Marco Silvestri in the United goal to give the EPL side the lead on 33 minutes. SAFC 1-0 United.
After the goal United started to see more of the ball inside the Sunderland half, but Rudy Austin just found his path blocked off inside the area following a brilliant move on the stroke of half-time.
HALF TIME: SAFC 1-0 LUFC.
Into the Second half and United almost got off to the perfect start when on loan Brazilian Adryan, found away past the Sunderland defence and saw his shot saved by the legs of goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon after being played through by Mirco Antenucci. Brian Montenegro forced another good save from Pantilimon as he looked to score at the near post. United were denied a penalty when Charlie Taylor went down under the challenge of Sebastien Larsson but referee Mike Dean said the challenege was outside the box but replays showed it was inside the area.
United then started to push forward to try and get back into the game and Sunderland thought they had a second goal of the afternoon but it was disallowed for offside after Fletcher was in a offside position but he put the ball into the back of the net. Silvestri then had to make a save from Giaccherini after his low effort and he made a good save on 69 minutes to keep it at 1-0 after he had to dive low to save Fletcher's goalbounded effort with both hands, before saving from Jordi Gomez.
At the other end Montenegro was found unmarked at the back post but he blazed over the bar and Austin dragged one wide from distance, while Fletcher drilled well wide of the far post as Sunderland threatened again. Cooper hit over with 10 minutes to go as Leeds remained within a shout of earning a deserved replay. Leeds had to be alert to Sunderland's counter attacks as Cooper slid in to deny Fletcher before ex loanee Connor Wickham saw a header saved by Silvestri.
With moments remaining Liam Cooper saw a header come back of the post with Pantilimon rooted to the spot after after a brilliant cross from United midfielder Luke Murphy. That proved to be the final action of the game and United bowed out of the FA Cup with a brilliant second half display against the EPL side.
Full Time: SAFC 1-0 LUFC.
Sunderland: Pantilimon, Vergini, van Aanholt, Coates, O'Shea, Bridcutt, Rodwell (Larsson 37), Gomez, Alvarez (Wickham 46), Giaccherini (Johnson 74), Fletcher. Subs. Stryjek, Buckley, Beadling, Robson.
United: Silvestri, Berardi, Cooper, Del Fabro, C Taylor, Austin, Murphy, Sloth, Adryan (Sharp 62), Montenegro (Doukara 84), Antenucci. Subs. S Taylor, Killock, Thompson, Phillips, Dawson, Doukara.
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