Oxford United 1-2 Sunderland AFC
Elliot Embleton scored a 89th-minute winner against Oxford United Saturday to seal a big win for Sunderland.
Both sides created chances in the opening exchanges, but the Black Cats struck first at the Kassam Stadium through captain Corry Evans.
Karl Robinson’s side levelled with 36 minutes played, though, as Elliott Moore connected with a pinpoint delivery to head home from six yards.
The U’s pushed forward following the restart and Anthony Patterson, who made an important stop early on, produced a stunning point-blank save to deny Ciaron Brown on 66 minutes.
Evans forced Jack Stevens into action as the clock ticked towards the closing period, but Embleton stole the headlines with a last-gasp winner just moments after his introduction.
Alex Neil made three changes for the Oxfordshire match-up, as Nathan Broadhead returned to the starting XI following his stoppage-time heroics against Gillingham.
Lynden Gooch and Jay Matete also lined up against the U’s, but Alex Pritchard missed out on the matchday squad as Danny Batth and Luke O’Nien dropped to the bench.
The home crafted the first opening with just three minutes on the clock, but Patterson produced a flying save to deny Mark Sykes from 20 yards.
Sunderland, likewise, issued their intent quickly and fired back 60 seconds later, with Broadhead’s effort cleared off the line by Luke McNally following positive play from Ross Stewart.
Sykes then thundered a second sight at goal high and wide, but the Lads silenced the Kassam on 15 minutes when Evans slotted a low finish through a crowded box and into the net.
The sides continued to throw caution to the wind and go toe-to-toe, but Oxford levelled with 36 minutes on the clock.
Billy Bodin unpicked the Sunderland defence with a pinpoint free kick that found Moore, who powered an unstoppable header into the net from six yards.
Enthused by the equaliser, the U’s registered several efforts at goal before the break, but it remained 1-1 at the interval.
Although O’Nien replaced Patrick Roberts at the break, Oxford continued to threaten and Sykes flashed a ball across the face of goal following the restart before McNally fired wide.
A sensational save from Patterson ensured the game remained level on 66 minutes, as Brown’s point-blank header was somehow turned behind by the academy graduate.
Evans forced a from Stevens shortly after, with Batth replacing Broadhead for the final 10 minutes in Oxfordshire.
Embleton entered the fray on 84 minutes and he was wheeling away on 89, as a well-worked move allowed the midfielder the time and space to slot the winning goal past Stevens.
Stewart could have added a third before Sam Winnall curled an effort inches wide, but after providing the assist for Broadhead one week earlier, Embleton was the match-winner.
Sunderland AFC: Patterson, Wright, Winchester, Cirkin, Gooch, Evans, Matete, Roberts (O'Nien 45), Clarke (Embleton 84), Broadhead (Batth 78), Stewart.
Substitutes: Hoffmann, Doyle, Neil, Hume.
Oxford United: Stevens, Long, McNally, Moore, Brown, Kane, Bodin, Brannagan, Sykes, Taylor, Holland (Whyte 61).
Subs not used: Eastwood, Forde, Seddon, Williams, McGuane, Winnall.