Sunderland U21s beat Blackburn to reach first ever Premier League Cup final
Sunderland Under-21s beat Blackburn Rovers 4-2 at the Stadium Of Light on Wednesday to earn themselves a spot in the Premier League Cup Final.
PREMIER LEAGUE CUP FINALISTS!!!!!! 😍 pic.twitter.com/ecPluBbM9S
— SAFC Academy (@AcademyOfLight) April 15, 2026
Winger Jack Whittaker scored a brace on the night to seal victory and book their place in the final against Burnley.
The match started with ferocious pace as Blackburn raced into an early lead thanks to Charlie Boggan, but Sunderland equalised shortly after as Whittaker finished off a lovely move by slotting past the keeper.
Sunderland then turned the game on its head after 20 minutes, as Milan Aleksić delivered a beautiful cross, which was met by Jaydon Jones to calmly finish past Jack Barrett.
However, the visitors found an equaliser of their own just minutes later, when Brandon Powell converted from close range after a scramble in the Sunderland box.
Graeme Murty’s side went on to regain the lead after 37 minutes when Barrett palmed a shot from Aleksić into the path of Harrison Jones, who was able to clip the ball past the covering defender.
After a frantic opening 45, the second was a lot more controlled from the home side, who were able to put the game beyond doubt on 74 minutes after Whittaker grabbed his second by tapping the ball into an empty net, after Tom Proctor’s low cross caused the Blackburn defence some problems.
😍 Through to our first ever #PLCup final!
Read all about tonight’s semi-final win over Blackburn… 🗞️👇
— SAFC Academy (@AcademyOfLight) April 15, 2026
Sunderland Under-21 boss Murty spoke to SportsByte after the game and said: “I’m really pleased for the players… the performance in the second half was outstanding”
Murty also talked up Jack Whittaker: “He’s a wonderful technical player…there were flashes of excellence from him today”
Sunderland now face Burnley in the Premier League Cup Final, with date and venue to be decided in due course.
