Oxford United 1 Sunderland 2: Story of the day as Elliot Embleton goal gives Cats huge win at the Kassam Stadium
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The Black Cats took the lead when Corry Evans opened the scoring with a low shot in the 16th minute, yet U’s defender Elliott Moore headed the hosts level before half-time.
Both sides had chances in the second half before Sunderland substitute Elliot Embleton scored a dramatic winner two minutes from the end.
The result moved Sunderland back into the play-off places as league rivals Wycombe and Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth all dropped points.
Here’s how the game played out:
RECAP: Oxford United 1 (Moore, 36) Sunderland 2 (Evans, 16) (Embleton, 88)
Key Events
- Sunderland XI: Patterson Winchester, Wright, Cirkin, Gooch, Evans, Matete, Clarke (Embleton, 85), Roberts (O’Nien, 45), Broadhead (Batth, 78) Stewart
- Subs: Hoffmann, Doyle, Hume, Batth, Embleton, Neil, O’Nien
- Oxford XI: Stevens, Long (Winnall, 90), Moore, McNally, Brown, Kane, Bodin, Brannagan, Sykes, Holland (Whyte, 61), Taylor
- Subs: Eastwood, Willians, Forde, McGuane, Whyte, Seddon, Winnall
25’ Good defending by Wright
Sunderland are starting to get pinned back here with Oxford committing a lot of men forward.
The game opened up again there as the hosts looked to release Taylor through on goal but Wright tracked his run.
Matete was then forced to stop Sykes’ low cross from the right going into the box before Evans headed away the following corner.
16’ GOAAAAAALLLLL!!!! EVANS!!!
It’s the captain!
It wasn’t the prettiest goal but Sunderlandd won’t care.
Clarke’s low free-kick from the edge of the box hit the wall, before Matete’s scuffed shot was also blocked.
The ball then fell to Evans inside the area and the skipper poked a low effort past the goalkeeper.
1-0!
11’ Over from Sykes
Sunderland look a little bit open at the back.
A ball from Brannagan set up Sykes on the right there, but the latter shot over from a tight angle.
6’ Big chance
That was a big chance for Sunderland.
Stewart did well to charge down the right and cut the ball back for Broadhead, yet the latter couldn’t quite get his shot off from inside the area as Kane got back to make a crucial block.
Open game so far.
4’ Excellent save from Patterson
That was close.
Evans conceded possession in midfield and Oxford attacked in numbers.
The ball eventually fell to Sykes on the edge of the box whose shot was heading for the top corner before Patterson kept it out.