Sunderland 0-1 Leeds United: Everything you need to know as Black Cats beaten in New Jersey
Sunderland were back in action against Premier League rivals Leeds United on Friday
Sunderland endured a frustrating evening in New Jersey as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Leeds United in their second US friendly.
Sunderland were unable to recover from conceding a sloppy early goal as Lukas Nmecha capitalised on a loose pass to beat Melker Ellborg from range and though they controlled possession for large parts of the game, they couldn’t find the quality they needed in the final third.
The positives for Le Bris were the return of the next batch of the club’s World Cup cohort, and that by and large Leeds were limited in terms of the saves they drew from Ellborg.
Sunderland had actually made most of the running in the opening exchanges of the game, pushing players forward and controlling possession for the most part. It was clear that Leeds were generally happy to sit in their shape and there was no pressing when Ellborg or his back four had the ball, a strategy that Sunderland didn't find it easy to adapt to.
The Black Cats found themselves behind inside ten minutes when Le Fee played too casual a pass back infield just inside his own half, Tanaka intercepting and the loose ball running kindly for Nmecha. The striker spotted Ellborg high off his line and beat with an opportunistic effort from range, the goalkeeper unable to recover as the ball went in off the inside of the post.
The goal did little to change the flow of the game and if anything, emboldened Leeds in their approach. With Brian Brobbey back leading the line Sunderland looked dangerous at times, but too often their final ball let them down as promising attacks drifted by without the goalkeeping being tested. The Black Cats did create one big opening when Mundle and Reinildo combined nicely down the left, the cross from the latter just too heavy for Brobbey to turn towards goal. The ball ran kindly for Le Fee but he drove his effort wide, as did Mundle a minute later when the Black Cats pressed well and won the ball back.
Leeds had spells on the ball with Sunderland transfer target Tarik Muharemović making a very assured debut, with Bogle driving an effort just wide of Ellborg's far post after a good break down the right. Sunderland though continued to control possession without finding an end product, Hume seeing an effort deflected wide after a 1-2 between Mundle and Brobbey almost paid off.
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The second half began in much the same vein as the first, Sunderland seeing plenty of the ball but finding Leeds difficult to break down. They went close when Rigg floated a nice cross in from the right on his left foot, substitute Tutierov doing well to generate some power on his header but ultimately seeing it drop wide of the far post.
As expected, Le Bris rang the changes on the hour mark and the rhythm of the game shifted as a result. Though the changes did see the introduction of more of Sunderland’s World Cup cohort, a more youthful Black Cats side lost control of the game a touch as Leeds began to enjoy their longest spell of possession. Dan James was proving a particular threat for Farke’s side and came closer than anyone in the half when playing a nice 1-2 just inside the Sunderland box, Ellborg standing tall to make a good block and keep his side in the game.
To their credit, Sunderland’s young side made a late push with substitute Simon Adingra causing Leeds problems. His cross from the right was headed just wide by Trey Ogunsuyi before a good combination with Tutierov ended with the youngster shooting just too close to Cairns in the Leeds goal.