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Sunderland pulled off an incredible comeback to defeat Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Saturday. In a thrilling finish, Tommy Watson, whom Brighton had outbid Tottenham for, scored a stunning curled shot in the 95th minute, clinching promotion for the Black Cats to the Premier League. This came after Eliezer Mayenda had leveled the score in the 76th minute.
It was a memorable day for Sunderland and their manager, Regis Le Bris, as they ended a four-year stint in League One and four seasons in the Championship, making history in the English Football League (EFL).
In history, Sunderland became the first team to enter the play-offs after losing five consecutive matches, yet still managed to secure promotion to the premier league.
This angle 😮💨 @SunderlandAFC #EFLPlayOffs | #StepUp pic.twitter.com/Oht5gLSt8S
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) May 24, 2025
Leading up to the play-offs, Sunderland was struggling badly. They faced five straight defeats against Swansea, Bristol City, Blackburn, Oxford, and QPR. However, defeating Sheffield United changed everything, as they made EFL history by bouncing back from that rough patch.
Andy Hinchcliffe highlighted this extraordinary achievement while commenting on Sky Sports, saying, “For Sunderland, it was written in the stars. Even when they were trailing in the two legs against Coventry, they found a way to come back. In this final, they were not the better side, but somehow, they managed to pull through. Remember, Sunderland came into the play-offs on the back of five straight losses—something that has never happened in EFL history. Yet they managed to turn it around.”
Billingham in action
With this promotion, Regis Le Bris may find it easier to hold onto young talents like Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg, both of whom were scouted by Arsenal and Manchester United during the January transfer window. If Sunderland had stayed in the Championship, they might have faced some tough decisions about selling one or both players because of financial pressures and the players’ own goals. But now that they’ve secured a place in the Premier League, it improves their chances of keeping these young talents at the Stadium of Light.
