Middlesbrough 1-2 Sunderland - FA Cup Match Report
It took 210 minutes of football but finally a victor was decided in the FA Cup Fourth Round contest between North East rivals Middlesbrough and Sunderland.
It took 210 minutes of football (plus injury time from all halves) but finally a victor was decided in the FA Cup Fourth Round contest between North East rivals Middlesbrough and Sunderland. At the Riverside Stadium tonight Sunderland advanced to the Fifth Round after defeating Middlesbrough 2-1 after extra time in the Fourth Round replay. Sunderland had taken the lead on the 41st minute mark when a stunning half-volley effort from Jack Colback hit the postage stamp top corner of the Boro goal and landed off the underside of the bar into the net. The Wearsiders had definitely edged the first half play and were worthy of their lead and looked likely to cruise to victory in the second half. But it was not to be that easy. Tony Mowbray's men came alive in the second half, showing guts and determination to get back into the cup tie and after much pressure, Lukas Jutkiewicz levelled for the home side and suddenly they looked the better side. Though they huffed and puffed they couldn't again break down the Black Cats door and after the 90 minutes were up, the tie went into extra time. Two tired sides battled it out in over time but Sunderland looked to have the more fresher legs and resilience and eight minutes before the second full time, Stephane Sessegnon hit a shot that couldn't be stopped from just outside the area and Boro had nothing to reply with. The game wasn't as sewn up as easily as Martin O'Neill would have wanted ahead of a Premier League match against Arsenal brewing on Saturday but he will be delighted to be in the next round. Their reward - to play Arsenal once again in the Fifth Round, inviting the Gunners to the Stadium of Light a week on Saturday.