Sunderland clinched promotion to the Premier League after eight years away as Tommy Watson’s stoppage-time strike sealed a 2-1 win against Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final on Saturday.
Regis Le Bris’ team fell behind early when Tyrese Campbell scored for Sheffield United, but Sunderland fought back late in the game. Eliezer Mayenda scored the equalizer just before full time, and then Watson delivered the winning goal in added time, sending the Sunderland fans into celebration.
This victory marked a stunning end to a challenging match, known as the richest game in world football because of the huge financial rewards linked to Premier League promotion. Sunderland’s success means they are set to receive around £200 million in extra revenue next season.
Fans are especially excited as Sunderland’s return to the Premier League will renew their fierce rivalry with Newcastle United. The Black Cats have not played in the top flight since 2017, following several difficult years that included four seasons in the third tier of English football.
Before the play-offs, Sunderland faced a tough run of five straight defeats. Yet, they showed resilience to fight back and earn their spot in the Premier League in a dramatic fashion. In the semi-final, Sunderland narrowly won 3-2 on aggregate against Coventry thanks to Dan Ballard’s last-minute extra-time header.
At Wembley, Sunderland looked set to miss out until the final minutes. Watson’s late winner came after Sunderland had only managed a few chances in the game. The goal also serves as a memorable farewell from Watson, who is set to join Brighton after the season ends.
Sunderland’s journey under the management of 49-year-old Regis Le Bris has been impressive. Le Bris took over last year after his previous team was relegated from France’s Ligue 1, and he has now guided Sunderland back to the top tier.
For Sheffield United, the defeat extended their poor history at Wembley, where they remain without a win in 100 years and have lost four Championship finals.
