Sunderland Boosts Promotion Hopes with 2-1 Victory Over Sheffield Wednesday
Sunderland has reignited their chances for automatic promotion from the Championship following a crucial 2-1 victory against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, powered by a sensational double from Eliezer Mayenda.
After facing setbacks with losses to Leeds and Hull, Sunderland found themselves eight points adrift of second-placed Sheffield United. However, this win narrows the gap to just five points with 12 matches remaining in the season.
The defeat marks Sheffield Wednesday’s fourth loss in five games, leaving them in 13th place with a six-point deficit to the play-off spots. The Owls faced injuries to key players including Max Lowe and Callum Paterson during the match.
The game began with intensity but took time to ignite. Sheffield Wednesday had a promising chance when Josh Windass, in search of a goal after ten games, fired high over the bar from a series of Pol Valentin crosses.
Sunderland opened the scoring around the 30-minute mark under controversial circumstances. Leo Hjelde’s long clearance found Mayenda, who capitalized on a defensive misstep. However, replays indicated that Mayenda made contact with the ball using his arm, raising questions about the legality of the goal.
Critics quickly called out the incident, noting that, according to the rules, a goal scored after handball should not count. Despite minimal protest on the pitch at the time, Wednesday’s management would have seen the replay and sought to respond immediately in the second half.
Just two minutes after the restart, Sheffield Wednesday equalized through Callum Paterson, who expertly headed in a cross from Svante Ingelsson.
However, Sunderland regained the lead in the 71st minute, with Mayenda powerfully heading home from a Trai Hume delivery, capitalizing on a defensive lapse from Michael Ihiekwe.
As the game entered stoppage time, Wednesday’s Djeidi Gassama had a chance to equalize, but his effort was blocked, sealing Sunderland’s victory.
Post-match, Sheffield Wednesday’s manager expressed frustration over the goals conceded, highlighting the need for improved defensive performance to build on their positive offensive displays.
Sunderland’s manager emphasized the importance of resilience and character demonstrated by his squad, particularly following the equalizer and during challenging match conditions. He praised the team’s effort and their determination to secure a vital three points in the promotion race.
