Sunderland fell to a 3-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League 2 Pay-Off final.
A Will Lankshear double either side of half time and a George Abbott goal inside stoppage time was enough to claim victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – Timur Tutierov’s late consolation strike pulled one back for the Black Cats.
Graeme Murty named an unchanged starting XI for their Premier League 2 play-off final. Marshall Burke remained sidelined with an ongoing hamstring injury.
The hosts created the match's first chance; Jamie Donley cut in from his left before curling his shot over Adam Richardson’s crossbar.
Ellis Taylor tested the palms of Luca Gunter on 10 minutes; the right-back advanced forward before forcing the Spurs goalkeeper into a neat save from 20 yards out.
Tottenham came close to breaking the deadlock inside 15 minutes following some neat build-up play, but Yayo De Santiago Alonso’s deflected effort rippled Richardson’s side netting.
The Black Cats should have taken the lead through Henry Fieldson after the centre-back met Tommy Watson’s inch-perfect corner, but somehow directed his header just wide.
Watson was among the thick of the action again minutes later, this time advancing past his man before drilling his shot goal-bound, but Gunter was well positioned to keep the score level.
Sunderland continued to apply pressure on Spurs' back line, but Gunter this time saved with his feet from Harrison Jones’ point-blank attempt.
After an intricate move that involved Ben Middlemas and Oliver Bainbridge, the midfielder found Watson in space with a timely pass before picking out Timur Tutierov at the far post, but the winger's shot rolled millimetres wide.
The home team took the lead on 39 minutes when George Abbott found Lankshear six yards out to open the scoring.
Harrison Jones came within a post of equalising on the stroke of half time. The midfielder's effort had Gunter planted to the spot but cannoned back off the woodwork.
Tottenham came within a whisker of doubling their lead with the final action of the first half, but Jude Soonsup-Bell headed wide from 10 yards out.
After the interval, Sunderland started on the front foot, Harrison Jones stinging Gunter’s palms from the edge of the box before Watson rattled the outside of his post moments later.
Lankshear doubled his tally and Tottenham’s lead on 61 minutes with a simple tap-in from six yards out.
An exquisite ball from Kelly set Watson on his way down the left, and after skilfully advancing past his man, Gunter was equal to his effort again.
Sunderland were controlling the lime share of possession, Watson again getting the better of his man, but his strike was deflected for a corner, which came to nothing.
Kelly was next to agonisingly watch his effort roll wide the wrong side of Gunter’s far post after Ogunsuyi had initially won possession back inside Tottenham’s final third.
Tottenham added their third of the afternoon inside stoppage time, captain Abbott finding the roof of Richardson’s net from close range.
The Black Cats pulled a goal back deep into added time, with Tutierov getting on the end of Watson’s shot to convert with a simple tap-in from close range.
Today’s match was the final PL2 fixture of the season. Thank you for your fantastic support throughout the campaign.
SAFC XI: Richardson, Taylor ©, Bell (Lavery 88’), Fieldson, Bainbridge, Middlemas, H. Jones (J. Jones 77’), Kelly, Tutierov, Watson, Ogunsuyi.
Substitutes: Chibueze, Ryder, Chungh.