Dan Ballard’s last-gasp header saw Sunderland beat Coventry 3-2 on aggregate to reach the 2024-25 Championship Play-Off Final.
Ballard thumped in a 122nd-minute header from a corner to secure a 1-1 draw on the night for Sunderland, as the Black Cats ultimately prevailed 3-2 on aggregate.
Coventry took a 76th-minute lead through Ephron Mason-Clark’s strike from Milan van Ewijk’s cross which restored parity on aggregate and forced extra time.
Sunderland will now meet Sheffield United in the Play-Off Final on 24 May, after the Blades battered Bristol City 6-0 on aggregate with a 3-0 second-leg victory at Bramall Lane.
With a 2-1 aggregate lead from a first leg which endured a scrappy first half, it was little surprise that Sunderland served up a similar start as Enzo Le Fee sliced a shot over the bar in the sixth minute.
Sunderland’s early pressure nearly saw them win a 11th-minute penalty after Wilson Isidor was brought down by Liam Kitching, but referee – Andrew Madley instead booked Isidor for simulation.
Coventry’s Ben Wilson spared his team’s blushes with a 22nd-minute block to deny Eliezer Mayenda, but Isidor could then only head wide from Dan Neil’s cross after the latter intercepted Wilson’s block.
Tatsuhiro Sakamoto went closest out of Coventry’s line-up in the first half as he rifled wide of the bottom-right corner on the half-hour mark, before he then flicked Jack Rudoni’s mis-kicked shot over the bar six minutes later as neither team broke the deadlock before half-time.
Coventry continued their late first-half momentum early in the second half as Haji Wright got clipped on the edge of the box by Trai Hume, yet Madley snubbed the Sky Blues’ appeals for a penalty.
Sakamoto and Milan van Ewijk then saw shots denied as Coventry continued to push for the opener to restore parity on aggregate.
Sunderland however got on top around the hour mark as Patrick Roberts fired wide before Hume then volleyed over from Luke O’Nien’s curled cross.
With 15 minutes left, Sunderland looked set to protect their lead until Van Ewijk whipped in a 76th-minute right-flank cross which Mason-Clark bundled in to pull Coventry level on aggregate.
Sunderland soon came under immense pressure as Coventry continued to build momentum in the closing minutes in search of an aggregate winner, yet the Black Cats dug in defensively to force extra time as Wright nodded wide in the final minute of injury time.
Coventry however were able to relentlessly continue their control in extra-time as Sakamoto headed wide whilst substitute – Josh Eccles and Kitching rifled wide on separate occasions.
Sunderland however found fresh energy in the second half of extra-time in which Romain Mundle’s 108th-minute shot was blocked by Eccles, whilst Hume saw a shot blocked barely a minute later.
Coventry looked destined to force a penalty shootout until Ballard rose highest to thump a 122nd-minute last-gasp header into the top-left corner from a corner-kick, which sent the home fans wild as Sunderland snatched a 1-1 draw to prevail 3-2 on aggregate.
O’Nien post-match spoke to Sky Sports in a state of shock at what Sunderland had done, but praised Coventry for their efforts and part in a cracking play-off semi-final.
“I’m lost for words. Just looking around and what this man [Dan Ballard] has done for this team. It’s incredible.
“Credit to Coventry. It’s a tough one to take [for them]. I think it was a hell of a tie, so credit to them and their fans, being on the receiving end of a loss in the semis.
“It was a tough one but they were a really tough opponent.”
What’s Next?
Sunderland will meet Sheffield Utd in the Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 24 May, with kick-off time still set to be confirmed.
Teams
Sunderland: Anthony Patterson, Trai Hume, Dan Ballard, Luke O’Nien, Dennis Cirkin (Hjelde 121′), Patrick Roberts (Mundle 95′), Dan Neil, Jobe Bellingham, Enzo Le Fee, Eliezer Mayenda, Wilson Isidor (Rigg 83′)
Substitutes: Salis Abdul Samed, Alan Browne, Leo Hjelde, Harrison Jones, Chris Mepham, Simon Moore, Romaine Mundle, Chris Rigg, Tom Watson
Coventry: Ben Wilson, Milan van Ewijk, Bobby Thomas, Liam Kitching, Jay Dasilva, Matt Grimes, Ben Sheaf (Eccles 73′, Allen 117′), Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Jack Rudoni, Haji Wright, Ephron Mason-Clark (Thomas-Asante 110′)
Substitutes: Jamie Allen, Jake Bidwell, Luis Binks, Bradley Collins, Josh Eccles, Joel Latibeaudiere, Jamie Paterson, Ellis Simms, Brandon Thomas-Asante
Referee – Andy Madley
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