Sunderland’s Stokoe spirit “deserved” draw with Leeds: Sunderland 2-2 Leeds United match report
Sunderland Head Coach Régis Le Bris praised the spirit of his players and supporters, as his side snatched a draw in the last moments against Leeds United on Friday. Leeds boss Daniel Farke was in disbelief at the equaliser that was gifted to the home side by goalkeeper Illan Meslier, stating he was “heartbroken” for his team. Daniel Wales reports.
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00:00Despite an ultimately poor previous campaign for Sunderland, the 1-0 victory over Leeds at the Stadium of Light was certainly a highlight.
00:08The fixture is one with happy memories for those on Wearside, because in 1973, a goal from Ian Porterfield saw 2nd Division Sunderland defeat 1st Division Leeds United to win the FA Cup.
00:20The victory is still talked about in Sunderland, although fans now believe it should be a Premier League fixture.
00:26I've had this discussion with Michael Bowes quite a lot, and I think Leeds are about the same level as Leeds.
00:32They're a huge club, and these two teams should be in the Premier League, it's as simple as that.
00:37Definitely.
00:38Bob Stokeborough, 1973, that was a great game, even though I wasn't born then. I've seen him bat many a times.
00:45I was only nine. It was unbelievable.
00:50I was sitting on my mum's sewing machine, a zinger, and as soon as I scored, I jumped up and, lo and behold, I spilled all the table.
01:03But it was fantastic.
01:07On to the game itself, and it was Sunderland who burst out of the traps and scored with just eight minutes played,
01:13when Denis Sirkin's initial effort was saved by Elan Mellier, allowing Chris Rigg to tap home into an empty net.
01:19This, though, sparked Leeds into life, and they quickly grew in confidence, putting pressure on the Sunderland back line.
01:25Their attacks were soon rewarded, as an inch-perfect ball from Wilfred Nonto picked out Joel Perrault,
01:31who simply could not miss with his header in the box.
01:34The game soon opened up, with both sides going close as the half went on.
01:39Nonto fired over for Leeds, before Joe Benningham saw two efforts go just wide within minutes of each other towards the end of the half.
01:46The second half continued in the same vein, but it was Leeds who hit the front,
01:50as Junior Firpo charged forward into the box, played a quick one-two, before slotting into the bottom corner.
01:57Sunderland searched for an equaliser, sometimes overworking their attacks in desperation to be level.
02:03It didn't look as if a leveller was going to arrive as Leeds ran the clock down,
02:07but in the last seconds of stoppage time, Elan Melier let an Alan Brown dinked ball slip through his hands and into the net, causing utter pandemonium.
02:16Regis Lebris then praised his players and fans, whilst Daniel Farker was in disbelief.
02:22The energy of the team was always here, and we tried until the end, and I liked this energy.
02:29I think the fans can feel that even if it's not perfect, sometimes they deserve that goal and that scenario.
02:39To lose this point in this way is heartbreaking, it's horrendous, it's so, so sad and disappointing for our Leeds.
02:47I have to say I feel for my Leeds because they've done today, to this moment, more or less everything really right after such a difficult time.
02:54I feel for them, for our supporters, because we were again excellent.