Match Report: Newcastle United U21 3-2 Sunderland AFC U21

Newcastle United claimed local bragging rights and their first Premier League 2 win in a 3-2 comeback victory against rivals Sunderland AFC in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park.

Trey Ogunsuyi opened the scoring for Sunderland in the 37th minute. Kyran Thompson equalised for Newcastle in the 58th minute, before Felix Scott restored the lead for the visitors in the 63rd minute. Newcastle fought back late in the second half through substitute Park Seung-soo, who leveled the scoreline in the 70th minute. Substitute Vakhtang Salia then scored the winning goal in the 85th minute to secure all three points.

Ahead of kick-off, the key talking point of the U21 Tyne-Wear derby was Sunderland’s decision to name first-team summer signing Juan Riquelme in the U21 starting line-up to lead the line for the Black Cats.

Newcastle started the game strongly, creating their first chance inside three minutes. Newcastle’s Johnny Emerson burst down the right flank, and released a low driven shot towards goal, which Sunderland goalkeeper Isaac Allan saved.

In the 15th minute, a misplaced pass by full-back Alexander Lienard was cut out by Emerson, whose powerful shot was matched by another excellent save.

It wasn’t up until the 21st minutes for Sunderland to make something, as Lienard’s ball into the box found Trey Ogunsuyi, whose effort was blazed over.

In the 35th minute, Lienard picked out Ogunsuyi yet again, but he was fouled by Newcastle’s Dylan Charlton, handing the visitors a free-kick in a dangerous position. The resulting free-kick was executed perfectly by The Black Cats. Tom Proctor’s precise cross into the box was met by an unmarked Ogunsuyi, who made no mistake in heading the visitors into the lead. 

Sunderland nearly doubled their lead just four minutes later. In the 40th minute, a long-range effort from £5m summer signing Juan Riquelme looked to be heading into the bottom corner but got denied.

Newcastle were the next to go close. In the 42nd minute, an excellent run down the right flank saw Emerson break into the box, but his shot across the keeper hit the post and bounced fortunately into the gloves of Allan. 

In the 57th minute, a great ball in from Lienard reached Ben Kindon, whose close-range header was brilliantly stopped by the keeper. The follow up was closest to Ogunsuyi, but he failed to connect with the ball from just yards out.

Just two minutes later, Newcastle made the game all square. In the 59th minute, an attack that started from the goalkeeper, made its way up to Kyran Thompson on the right flank. The winger took matters into his own hands as he unleashed a powerful strike that struck the crossbar and dropped dead in the back left corner of the net.

Sunderland didn’t let the game stay level for long. In the 63rd minute, Felix Scott drove into the box, he took a quick shot near post, which beat the Newcastle keeper.

 In the 70th minute, Park Seung-soo made an instant impact off the bench as he cut in from the left hand side of the box and dispatched a curling effort that nestled into the top-right corner.

Five minutes before full-time, a ball across by substitute Kyle Fitzgerald was met by another substitute, Vakhtang Salia, at the back post, whose headed effort bundled into the back of the net to give the hosts the lead for the first time in the game.

The Magpies now look ahead to Premier League Cup action on Friday night at home to Peterborough United U21, whereas the Black Cats must wait until November 6, to continue their PL2 campaign with a home fixture against Blackburn Rovers U21.