Seung-soo scores stunner at SJP as Newcastle beat Sunderland in U21s derby
Newcastle United’s Under-21s came from behind twice to claim a 3-2 victory over Sunderland at St James’ Park on Monday night.
A crowd of 5,100, including around 300 travelling supporters from Wearside, watched our young Mags secure a first Premier League 2 win of the season in a dramatic mini Tyne-Wear derby.
Matthias Jaissle, Ross Wilson and PIF chief Jacobo Solis were all spotted in attendance, alongside former Gateshead boss Lee Cattermole, as the first U21 derby at St James’ Park in four years delivered a thrilling finish.
Salia wins it after Seung-soo stunner
After Sunderland’s first-half goal sent us into the break 1-0 down, new recruit Kyran Thompson was back among the goals as the right winger lashed a brilliant strike in off the underside of the bar to level the scores in the 58th minute.
However, the Mackems restored their lead just five minutes later through Felix Scott, leaving Newcastle with another mountain to climb.
Then came the late comeback, which started via Park Seung-soo. The South Korean winger cut inside from the left before firing an absolute beauty into the top corner at the Gallowgate End to make it 2-2 in the 70th minute.
With just five minutes remaining, Georgian forward Vakhtang Salia completed the turnaround, heading Kyle Fitzgerald’s excellent cross beyond the goalkeeper to spark celebrations in a busy East Stand.
It was Salia’s fifth goal of the season in all competitions at U21 level, sealing a huge win for our youngsters against a Sunderland side who had started the evening seventh in the Premier League 2 table.
The contest threatened to boil over in the closing stages, with nine yellow cards shown in a fiercely contested derby. But our young Mags held firm through eight minutes of stoppage time to secure a victory on home turf.
After a difficult start to their league campaign, Robbie Stockdale’s side will hope this result provides the platform for a more consistent run of results.
Who played? Newcastle & Sunderland line-ups
Newcastle XI: Roman Dowell, Henry Johnson, Dylan Charlton, Logan Watts, Miodrag Pivaš, Scott Bailey (c), Johnny Emerson, Mason Miley, Afner Cá, Kyran Thompson, Matheos Ferreira.
Substitutes: Luke Craggs, Alex Walpole, Jayden Kouossu, Kyle Fitzgerald, Vakhtang Salia, Alfie Seldon, Park Seung-soo.
Substitutions: Salia for Cá (51’); Fitzgerald for Emerson (67’); Seung-soo for Ferreira (67’); Seldon for Thompson (67’); Kouossu for Mason Miley (78’).
Sunderland XI: Isaac Allan, Alexander Lienard, Ben Kindon, Joe Neild, Jenson Jones, Jack Whittaker, Kay Munyakazi, Tom Proctor, Felix Scott, Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi, R. Angulo.
Substitutes: Hunt, Metcalf, Lightfoot, Wilson, Dinsdale, Barker, Ja. Jones.
Goals: Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi (37’), Kyran Thompson (58’), Felix Scott (63’), Park Seung-soo (70’), Vakhtang Salia (85’).
