Sheffield United 1-2 Sunderland
Saturday, 24th May 2025 – 15:01
Championship Play-Off Final
Venue: Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 82,718
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
| SHEFFIELD UNITED | 1 (1) |
| Tyrese Campbell 25 | |
| SUNDERLAND | 2 (0) |
| Elizar Mayenda 76, Tom Watson 90+5 |
| SHEFFIELD UNITED | -V- | SUNDERLAND | ||
| Michael Cooper | 1 | Anthony Patterson | ||
| Rhian Brewster | B | 2 | Dennis Cirkin | B |
| Gustavo Hamer | 3 | Daniel Neil | ||
| Kieffer Moore | 4 | Dan Ballard | ||
| Harrison Burrows | 5 | Jobe Bellingham | ||
| Anel Ahmedhodzic | 6 | Christopher Rigg | ||
| Jack Robinson | 7 | Elizar Mayenda | ||
| Vinicius Souza | 8 | Luke O’Nien | ||
| Tyrese Campbell | 9 | Romaine Mundle | B | |
| Hamza Choudhury | 10 | Enzo La Fée | ||
| Sydie Peck | 11 | Trai Hume | ||
| Substitutes | |
| 9mins | Chris Mepham for O’Nien |
| 58mins | Patrick Roberts for Rigg |
| 64mins | Andre Brooks for Brewster |
| 64mins | Callum O’Hare for Campbell |
| 72mins | Ben Brereton Diaz (booked) for Hamer |
| 73mins | Wilson Isidor for Mundle |
| 73mins | Tom Watson (booked) for Neil |
| 90mins | Tom Cannon for Brereton Diaz |
| 90mins | Femi Seriki for Ahmedhodzic |
| 90mins | Tom Davies for Peck |
| 90mins | Leo Hjelde for Mayenda |
| Unused | ||||
| Adam Davies | Simon Moore | |||
| Sam McCallum | – | Alan Browne | ||
| Rob Holding | – | Salis Abdul Samed | ||
| Alfie Jones | ||||
| Managers | ||||
| Chris Wilder | – | Régis Le Bris | ||
Notes
No notes
Match Report
Late Heartbreak Ends United’s Promotion Dream at Wembley
Sheffield United’s hopes of securing a return to the Premier League were dashed in dramatic fashion as a stoppage-time goal condemned them to a 2-1 defeat against Sunderland in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.
The Blades had taken a deserved lead into half-time through Tyrese Campbell’s composed finish, but second-half goals from Eliezer Mayenda and a 95th-minute strike from substitute Tommy Watson saw Sunderland snatch promotion in the cruellest of fashions.
Manager Chris Wilder made two changes from the side that triumphed over Bristol City in the semi-finals. Rhian Brewster and Campbell returned to the starting XI, with Tom Cannon and Andre Brooks dropping to the bench. There was also a boost on the bench as Ben Brereton Diaz and Femi Seriki made their return from injury.
Roared on by a vibrant red-and-white contingent under the Wembley arch, United started brightly. Gustavo Hamer, picking up possession on the left, delivered a teasing cross which Kieffer Moore met with a firm header, only to be denied by a superb save from Anthony Patterson. The early action was halted for several minutes when Sunderland defender Luke O’Nien suffered an injury in a collision with Moore, eventually being replaced by Chris Mepham.
United’s pressure eventually paid off in the 25th minute — though in unusual circumstances. Sunderland’s short corner was cleared by Brewster, sparking a rapid Blades counter. Hamer raced onto the loose ball, surged forward, and threaded a perfect pass into the path of Campbell, who kept his cool to lift the ball over the advancing Patterson and into the net.
Sunderland responded soon after with their first meaningful chance — Trai Hume’s cross was met by Mayenda, who headed over.
United thought they had doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark. A corner was cleared as far as Harrison Burrows, whose thunderous strike found the net. But following a lengthy VAR review, the goal was chalked off as Vini Souza was adjudged to be offside and obstructing Patterson’s view.
The Black Cats finished the half stronger, with Chris Rigg firing a low effort into the arms of Michael Cooper after a blocked cross fell kindly for him on the edge of the area.
Sunderland began the second half on the front foot, forcing United to defend a flurry of corners. But the Blades almost struck again on the counter — Sydie Peck released Moore with a pinpoint through ball, but the forward’s effort was blocked. Brewster picked up the loose ball and fashioned a chance of his own, only to be denied by desperate Sunderland defending.
Brewster was booked for a late challenge on Romaine Mundle shortly before he and goalscorer Campbell were replaced by Callum O’Hare and Andre Brooks in the 64th minute.
Moments later, Mundle joined Brewster in the referee’s notebook after cynically pulling back Souza on the halfway line as United looked to break.
With just over 20 minutes remaining, Brooks almost made an instant impact. A long ball forward caused problems in the Sunderland defence, and the substitute saw his strike well blocked by Patterson’s legs.
Hamer then required treatment and was unable to continue — replaced by Brereton Diaz as United sought renewed momentum.
But against the run of play, Sunderland found a leveller with 15 minutes to go. After winning possession on halfway, Patrick Roberts fed Mayenda, who unleashed an unstoppable drive into the roof of Cooper’s net.
Brereton Diaz was booked for a pull on Roberts shortly after, and he soon required treatment himself following a heavy challenge from Hume. That proved his final action, as Cannon replaced him in the final minute of regular time, with Tom Davies also coming on for Peck.
Then came the decisive blow. Five minutes into added time, a misplaced pass fell kindly to Watson. The substitute surged forward and rifled a low shot past Cooper into the bottom corner to send the Sunderland fans into raptures.
There was still time for Ahmedhodzic to be withdrawn following a head injury, with Seriki coming on for the final moments. United pushed everyone forward in a desperate search for an equaliser, but Sunderland stood firm to book their return to the top flight.
It was a bitterly cruel end to a spirited Blades performance — and another Wembley heartbreak that will sting for some time.
UP THE BLADES 
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