LONDON — Sunderland produced a dramatic comeback to win football’s richest game and book their place in the Premier League.
Substitute Tom Watson scored a 95th-minute winner to earn a 2-1 win over Sheffield United in the Championship playoff final — a fixture worth an estimated £200 million ($270.8m) to the winning team.
It was Sunderland’s third shot on target at Wembley.
Their second of the game, 14 minutes from time, saw Eliezer Mayenda equalize almost out of nothing after Tyrese Campbell had given Sheffield United a first-half lead.
Watson’s finish, passed into the bottom corner from outside the penalty area, capped an incredible end to Sunderland’s season.
“I can’t really put it into words … It’s unbelievable,” Watson, who will be joining Brighton in the summer, told Sky Sports postmatch.
“We’ll see each other next year in the Premier League, in the big time.”
“I’ve been thinking about this [contributing in the playoff final] for weeks, I think it was written, I couldn’t have pictured it any better.
“I got closed down, saw a little gap and just used him [to curl into the corner].”
Régis Le Bris’ team lost their last five Championship games and needed a late extra-time winner in the playoff semifinal second leg against Coventry to reach the final.
They finished fourth in the table — 14 points behind Sheffield United in third — but have now sealed their return to the Premier League after eight years away.
Frenchman Le Bris has achieved promotion to the top-flight in his first season at the Stadium of Light after inheriting a team which finished 16th in the Championship last season and were in League One as recently as 2022.
For Sheffield United, it is more heartbreak. It’s the 10th time they’ve failed to go up via the playoffs and they’ve now failed to win any of their last eight trips to Wembley — a run stretching back 100 years to 1925.
It was made even more devastating for their fans because it looked for a long time that it would be their day.
Chris Wilder’s team were almost ahead inside 90 seconds.
Kieffer Moore’s header from Gus Hamer’s cross from the right looked destined to sneak inside the post. That was until Anthony Patterson in the Sunderland goal produced a stunning save to claw it away. Wembley won’t have seen many better.
Sunderland didn’t escape completely unscathed. In trying to nudge Moore out of the way, defender Luke O’Nien injured his shoulder and was substituted after requiring oxygen by the side of the pitch.
Hamer was involved again when Sheffield United finally took the lead. When a Sunderland corner was cleared on 25 minutes, he produced a burst of speed from his own penalty area to beat three white shirts to the ball.
The 27-year-old then had the presence of mind to flick a delightful pass with the outside of his boot into the path of Campbell, who clipped his finish over Patterson for his first goal since March.
It almost got even better for Sheffield United 10 minutes later, but Harrison Burrows’ volley from outside the box was chalked off after a VAR review.
Sunderland dominated possession after the break, but struggled to create any clear clearances. At the other end, Sheffield United substitute Andre Brooks had a chance to make it 2-0 only for Patterson to make his second crucial save of the afternoon.
It gave Mayenda the platform to spark bedlam in the Sunderland end when he rifled in an equalizer after an exquisite pass from Patrick Roberts.
And just as the game looked to be heading to extra time, 19-year-old Watson picked up a loose pass from Moore in midfield, drove at the Sheffield United defence and found the bottom corner with a pinpoint finish.
“It’s probably my best game since joining the club,” O’Nien told Sky Sports.
“I’m so proud of this club and these boys — I can’t believe what’s just happened.
“I’ve never felt anxiety like that — but the gaffer said if you get one goal who knows what can happen.
“Those boys, Tommy Watson — Sunderland legend. They’re all Sunderland legends. I am just delighted to play a part in the happiness. What am I saying, I didn’t play a part, I did nothing.
“I was just there on the side watching — I covered more ground celebrating when Eliezer and Tommy scored.”
