Sunderland U-18s 1, Tottenham U-18s 2

May 14 2009 by Lynsey Elliott, The Journal

TWO quickfire goals just before half-time killed Sunderland off and sent Spurs through to the Premier Academy Youth League play-off final.

A Ryan Mason penalty put the Londoners in front on 39 minutes with Andros Townsend doubling their lead four minutes later.

The Black Cats pulled a goal back from the penalty spot through Ryan Noble 19 minutes from time to set up a tense finish – and hit the woodwork in the final minute – but Spurs hung on to set up a final against North London rivals Arsenal. Spurs started strongly and Sunderland were twice grateful to keeper Michael Misciewicz in the first quarter of an hour as he was quickly off his line to deny Townsend and left-winger Danny Rose.

But as the half wore on, Sunderland came into the game and Liam Noble whistled a shot just past the left-hand post on 19 minutes.

A quick Noble free-kick in the 20th minute caught out the visitors' defence and released Liam O'Mahoney inside the box, but Spurs keeper Oscar Jansson blocked with his legs as the winger tried to slip the ball past him into the net.

Then came the opening goal, which came when Spurs won a dubious free kick just outside the box and when Mason curled the ball goalwards, it hit the arm of one of the players in the wall and the referee pointed straight at the spot. Mason stepped up to send Misciewicz the wrong way .

Sunderland were still reeling when Spurs broke forward quickly on the counter-attack and the ball was played to Jon Obika just inside the box on the left and he laid it back into the path of Townsend, who hit home from 18 yards. Sunderland's goal came when Nathan Byrne was adjudged to have pushed Adam Reed inside the penalty area. Ryan Noble converted.

Sunderland were inches away from forcing an equaliser when Noble fired in a shot from 20 yards which beat Jansson but came back off the angle of post and bar and was hacked clear.

SUNDERLAND: Misiewicz, Bagnall, Kay, McArdle, Adams, L Noble, O'Mahoney, Reed, Hourihane, Waghorn (Wood 46), R Noble. Subs (not used): Wilson, Hunter, Fletcher, Cornforth.

Referee: S Rowntree

Attendance: 314