Football
Sunderland stun Sheffield United in play-offs to secure Premier League promotion
Sunderland pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat Sheffield United 2-1 in the Championship play-off final, securing a dramatic return to the Premier League.
The Black Cats were trailing until late in the second half, but a thunderous strike from Eliezer Mayenda in the 76th minute brought them level at Wembley.
With the match deep into stoppage time, substitute Tom Watson fired home the winner, sending the Sunderland faithful into wild celebrations and ending an eight-year absence from the top flight.
This victory sees Sunderland join Leeds United, who won the Championship title, and Burnley, the runners-up, as the three promoted clubs. Sheffield United, who had entered the final as clear favorites, took an early lead in the 25th minute when Tyrese Campbell chipped a composed finish over Anthony Patterson following a swift counter-attack.
The Blades thought they had doubled their advantage nine minutes later through Harrison Burrows, but the goal was chalked off after a VAR review spotted an infringement by Vinicius Souza.
Despite their recent poor form—having lost five matches in a row before the play-offs—Sunderland refused to back down.
They pressed relentlessly and were finally rewarded when Patrick Roberts carved open the Sheffield United defense with a perfect pass, allowing Mayenda to slam the ball past goalkeeper Michael Cooper.
The match looked destined for extra time until Watson, who had only come on minutes earlier, struck decisively in the dying seconds.
Watson’s late heroics were all the more poignant as he is set to leave the club this summer to join Brighton, meaning he will face his former teammates next season in the Premier League.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Watson described the moment as surreal and emotionally overwhelming, saying his celebration said everything. He added that he had imagined such a scenario for weeks, calling it a story that felt prewritten.
The Black Cats’ route to the final was anything but straightforward. They required a dramatic 120+2 minute winner to edge past Coventry City, managed by Frank Lampard, in the semi-finals.
Their play-off journey capped a remarkable turnaround for a club that spent four seasons in League One following back-to-back relegations in 2018 before climbing back to the Championship in 2022.
Sheffield United, who finished third with 90 points and had spent the season battling Leeds and Burnley for automatic promotion, were left stunned.
Sunderland’s emotional triumph was reflected in scenes of joy and disbelief among players and supporters alike. Captain Luke O’Nien, sidelined by injury but a key figure during the club’s lowest ebb, expressed immense pride in the team.
He described the first half as tough and credited the side’s belief that once they scored, momentum would shift in their favor.
Former defender Gary Bennett, speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle, echoed that sentiment, praising the fans and calling the result monumental for the city of Sunderland.
He highlighted Watson’s impact and hailed the team’s resilience, celebrating what he called a never-say-die attitude that carried them back to the Premier League.
Juventus are reportedly set to compete with Napoli for the signing of Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho this summer.
The 25-year-old is back at Old Trafford following a season-long loan at Chelsea, where he made a solid impact with five goals and 10 assists across 41 competitive appearances. He also found the net in Chelsea’s convincing 4-1 victory in last month’s Conference League final, though his efforts were not enough to convince the club to make the deal permanent.
Chelsea were initially expected to secure Sancho for £25 million as part of their loan agreement but ultimately chose to walk away from the obligation. As a result, they were required to pay Manchester United a £5 million penalty fee.
Despite being under contract with United, Sancho is not considered part of manager Ruben Amorim’s long-term plans. If he fails to secure a transfer in the coming weeks, the winger is expected to be left out of the club’s pre-season tour to the United States.
Juventus enter the race for Sancho
Napoli had previously emerged as the frontrunner for Sancho’s signature, with the player reportedly reaching a verbal agreement with the Serie A champions. However, a deal between Manchester United and Napoli has yet to be finalized.
According to Sky Sports News, Juventus have now entered the picture, exploring the financial and contractual terms of a potential move. The Turin-based side is seriously evaluating the opportunity to sign the England international, who has earned 23 senior caps.
Is Juventus the right fit for Sancho?
Juventus manager Igor Tudor is preparing for his first full season in charge after leading the team to a top-four finish last term. Known for deploying a 3-4-2-1 formation, Tudor’s system does not traditionally utilize wide wingers like Sancho.
If he joins Juventus, Sancho would likely compete for one of the two attacking midfield spots behind the main striker—a role that currently sees strong competition from Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao, and Nico Gonzalez. Unless one of these players is sold, Sancho might struggle to find regular playing time in Turin.
Napoli, on the other hand, could offer a more suitable environment for the former Borussia Dortmund star. With the club still looking to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who departed in January, Sancho may find more opportunities to thrive in his preferred position on the wing.
Nicolas Jackson endured a nightmare cameo as Chelsea collapsed in the second half against Flamengo during their FIFA Club World Cup clash, suffering a 3-1 defeat that puts their tournament hopes at risk.
Chelsea initially took the lead through Pedro Neto, whose composed finish through the goalkeeper’s legs gave the Premier League side a promising start. However, the momentum quickly shifted after the break.
Flamengo responded in ruthless fashion, netting twice in quick succession. Substitute Bruno Henrique capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home from close range, followed by another back-post finish from Danilo that stunned the Blues and put the Brazilian side ahead.
Matters worsened for Chelsea when substitute Nicolas Jackson was shown a straight red card just four minutes after entering the pitch.
His dangerous challenge saw his studs connect with Lucas Ayrton’s shin, leaving the referee with little choice but to send him off immediately.
Flamengo sealed the win with a third goal, as Wallace Yan added the final blow to a chaotic second half that Chelsea will want to forget.
The result means Chelsea must now beat African side ES Tunis in their next match on Tuesday to progress to the last 16. However, finishing second in the group could set them up for a much tougher path, likely facing the winner of Group C, which may include Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich.
Flamengo’s victory strengthens their bid to top Group D and extends the unbeaten run of South American teams in the Club World Cup’s newly expanded format.
Flamengo vs Chelsea Highlight
Monterrey secured their spot in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, now known as the CONCACAF Cup.
Fast forward four years, and the team returned to the international stage at the Rose Bowl with only one player from that title-winning squad still in the lineup: veteran goalkeeper Esteban Andrada. The club had not lifted any silverware since that 2021 triumph, which made what happened next even more unexpected.
In a surprising twist, Monterrey opened the scoring against Inter Milan in the 25th minute, as Sergio Ramos delivered a perfectly placed header.
The Spanish defender, who joined the Mexican outfit earlier this year on a one-year deal reportedly worth $4 million, had cited the Club World Cup as a major influence in his decision to sign. His goal sent the Monterrey fans into wild celebrations.
However, their joy didn’t last long. Inter’s star forward Lautaro Martínez—fresh off a World Cup win—responded with a close-range finish following a perfectly orchestrated set-piece.
The Argentine’s goal silenced the Rayados-dominated crowd and brought the game level at 1-1 before halftime.
The second half saw both teams tighten up defensively, limiting each other’s chances as the game wore on.
Inter, still recovering from a heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in last month’s UEFA Champions League final, looked eager to reassert themselves. But it was Monterrey who rose to the occasion, matching their European opponents stride for stride and leaving the pitch with their heads held high after a gritty performance.
Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan Highlights
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