Sunderland seals promotion after dramatic play-off win
Tom Watson ended Sunderland's eight-year exile from the Premier League as his late winner earned a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United in the EFL Championship play-off final.
Watson was already on his way to the top-flight next season after sealing a move to Brighton and Hove Albion in April, but crowned his final appearance for the club with the deciding blow at Wembley Stadium as the Blades missed out in a play-off final yet again.
The 19-year-old capitalised on a loose pass from Kieffer Moore, striding his way to the edge of the box before curling a fine, low effort beyond the grasp of goalkeeper Michael Cooper.
Tyrese Campbell had given the Blades the lead in the 25th minute, but Sunderland, which lost defender Luke O'Nien to a shoulder injury early on, deservedly drew level through Eliezer Mayenda 14 minutes from time.
That came after United had forced Anthony Patterson into several fine saves, while the Blades also had a goal disallowed for offside after a video assistant referee (VAR) check.
In the fifth minute of second-half stoppage-time, Watson netted just his third but easily his most important goal for Sunderland to cap a memorable comeback in the capital.
Regis Le Bris's team will now join Leeds United and Burnley in the Premier League in 2025-2026, while Sheffield United, which finished third after the regular season, will have to go again next season.
Coming into the game, the Blades were the favourites, having finished 14 points ahead of Sunderland in the regular Championship season.
But it proved to be another disappointing Wembley day for Sheffield United. It has not won any of its past eight matches at Wembley, losing six of them, with its most recent win coming 100 years ago against Cardiff City in the 1925 FA Cup final.
It was also a fifth consecutive defeat in an EFL play-off final for United, and no side has appeared in more without earning promotion.
