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Sunderland v Stoke Match Report & Stats: 1-2 – Extra-Time Thriller in the FA Cup
| Competition | FA Cup 3rd Round |
|---|---|
| Date | 11 January 2025 |
| Teams | Sunderland v Stoke |
| Final Score | Sunderland 1-2 Stoke (AET) |
Sunderland v Stoke Match Report
Stoke City emerged victorious in a tense FA Cup third-round tie against Sunderland, with a 2-1 win after extra time. The match, held at the Stadium of Light, saw Sunderland field a youthful, rotated squad while Stoke took the opportunity to deploy a near full-strength side. The strategy paid off, as the visitors edged out the hosts in a physical and competitive encounter.
The scoring was opened early by Stoke’s Tom Cannon, who converted a penalty in the 4th minute. Sunderland equalised in the second half through an Aleksic strike, assisted by Aouchiche, setting up a dramatic finale. Extra time saw Niall Ennis seal Stoke’s progress with a well-taken goal in the 112th minute, overcoming the resilient Sunderland defence.
Key Moments
First Half
- 4' Goal (0-1, Cannon T., PEN): Tom Cannon confidently slotted home a penalty to give Stoke an early lead.
- Sunderland struggled to break through Stoke’s organised defence despite enjoying spells of possession.
Second Half
- 59' Substitution (Sunderland): Zac Johnson replaced Aji Alese due to an injury.
- 64' Goal (1-1, Aleksic M.): Aleksic levelled the score with a composed finish following a clever assist by Aouchiche.
- Sunderland grew into the game but couldn’t find a winner in regular time.
Extra Time
- 112' Goal (1-2, Ennis N.): Ennis capitalised on a defensive lapse to put Stoke ahead with a precise finish.
- Sunderland pushed for another equaliser, but Stoke’s defence held firm.
Stats at a Glance
| Statistic | Sunderland | Stoke |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 52% | 48% |
| Goal Attempts | 19 | 13 |
| Shots on Goal | 8 | 5 |
| Shots off Goal | 7 | 4 |
| Blocked Shots | 4 | 4 |
| Corner Kicks | 5 | 3 |
| Free Kicks | 17 | 9 |
| Fouls | 9 | 17 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 4 |
Lineups
Sunderland (4-2-3-1)
- GK: S. Moore
- Defenders: T. Hume, L. O'Nien, L.F. Hjelde, A. Alese
- Midfielders: H. Jones, D. Neil (C), E. Mayenda, C. Rigg, A. Aouchiche
- Forward: A. Connolly
Substitutes: Z. Johnson, M. Aleksic, N. Rusyn, S. Abdul Samed, T. Samuel-Ogunsuyi
Stoke (4-2-3-1)
- GK: V. Johansson (C)
- Defenders: J. Tchamadeu, A. Phillips, B. Wilmot, E. Stevens
- Midfielders: W. Burger, L. Baker, A. Moran, L. Koumas, T. Cannon
- Forward: T. Cannon
Substitutes: N. Ennis, M. Tezgel, J. Gooch, M. Sidibe, J. Bae
Pre-Match Predictions
- "Stoke to Win" – ❌
- Unfortunately, Stoke capitalised on their stronger lineup in extra time.
- "Sunderland to Rotate Heavily" – ✅
- Sunderland indeed fielded a rotated side, focusing on evaluating fringe players.
- "Stoke’s Full Strength to Shine" – ✅
- Stoke’s stronger XI played a key role, with Burger, Cannon, and Johansson standing out.
Stoke's victory marks a positive step under Mark Robins' management, offering hope for a turnaround in their league form. Meanwhile, Sunderland will turn their focus back to the Championship, aiming to capitalise on their youthful talent. They were strong favorites to beat Stoke, according to leading UK betting sites.
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