By Victor Kanayo
Sunderland have returned to the English Premier League after an eight-year absence.
It was Tommy Watson’s stoppage-time strike that sealed a dramatic 2-1 win against Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final.
Regis Le Bris’ side had trailed to Tyrese Campbell’s first-half goal at Wembley, but Eliezer Mayenda equalised in the closing stages before Watson delivered the priceless last-gasp winner.
It was an astonishing twist to the single richest match in world football as Sunderland recovered from a sluggish start to hit the jackpot with a promotion worth an estimated £200 million ($270 million) in increased revenue.
Watson’s champagne moment ensured Sunderland fans can look forward to renewing hostilities with bitter rivals Newcastle next season.
Sunderland’s return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017 comes after a dark period that included a four-season spell in the third tier.
The Black Cats suffered five successive defeats coming into the play-offs, but they dug deep to reach the top flight in the most remarkable style.
With a penalty shoot-out just seconds away, Dan Ballard’s last-gasp extra-time header sealed a 3-2 aggregate success in the semi-final second leg against Coventry.
They looked down and out again with only 14 minutes left at Wembley before the stunning denouement.
Promotion completed an impressive rise for Le Bris, a 49-year-old Frenchman who arrived at the Stadium of Light last year after suffering relegation from Ligue 1 with Lorient.
United are still without a win at Wembley in 100 years and have now endured four Championship final defeats among 10 failed attempts to win promotion via the play-offs.
