Sunderland has secured promotion to the Premier League after a dramatic 2-1 win over Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium. Teenage sensation Tommy Watson scored the winning goal in the 95th minute, curling a low shot past Michael Cooper to seal the victory.
The match had been a closely contested affair, with Sheffield United dominating large parts of the game. Tyrese Campbell had given the Blades a deserved lead in the first half, and Harrison Burrows thought he had doubled the advantage before VAR intervened for offside. Despite being the better team for much of the match, Sheffield United’s lead was canceled out by Eliezer Mayenda’s fine goal on 76 minutes.
The turning point came when Sunderland took advantage of extra space after Sheffield United’s Anel Ahmedhodzic was temporarily taken off the field with a head injury. Watson seized the opportunity, collecting a loose pass from Kieffer Moore and scoring with a stunning low shot from just outside the box.
The win marks Sunderland’s return to the Premier League for the first time in eight years, while Sheffield United’s play-off hoodoo continues, with the Blades now having lost 10 play-off finals without a win since 1925. Despite a season marked by adversity, including relegation from the Premier League last season and the tragic loss of former player George Baldock, Sheffield United had shown remarkable resilience under manager Chris Wilder. However, it was not enough to overcome the mental baggage of their play-off disappointments.
