On july 2012
Super-sub Ryan Noble saved the day at the Suwon Stadium after only being on the pitch 13 minutes.
The striker inspired a comeback of epic proportions when he created Fraizer Campbell's 88th minute equaliser and snatched a last-gasp winner for himself. The 19 year-old had an immediate impact after coming off the bench to join Campbell and Connor Wickham in Sunderland's frontline.
The Black Cats seemed destined to make it two defeats in two in Korea, having gave away an early lead to be 2-1 down, until Noble's timely introduction changed the game. Martin O'Neill handed starts to two younger members of the squad who have made the trip to take part in the Peace Cup.
Goalkeeper Ben Wilson replaced Simon Mignolet between the sticks, after the Belgian pulled up in training yesterday, while striker Craig Lynch started the game up front with Connor Wickham and Fraizer Campbell in attack. The only other change to the team that started in the defeat against Seongnam was the inclusion of Carlos Cuellar. The Spaniard was a second half substitute on Thursday and impressed during his 15 minutes on the pitch against Seongnam.
Stopper Wilson had his resolve tested very early in the match as Groningen took the game to Sunderland. After just two minutes, Virgil Van Dijk intercepted a lpass from Wes Brown, fortunately the defender's strike was high and wide and didn't really trouble the young keeper. Minutes later Leandro Bacuna found himself a loose ball at pounced to drive a shot at Wilson, but the 19 year-old did well to deny the Dutch winger an opening goal.
However, despite a number of early chances for the opposition, it was Sunderland who would open the scoring. Connor Wickham poked the ball home after Titus Bramble had a headed effort saved by Luciano Da Silva to give Sunderland the lead. The Dutch were denied an equaliser when Wilson once again marked his watch with a terrific save on Maikel Kieftenbeld's thunderous shot.
That was the best the opening period got for O'Neill's side as it took a nasty turn 10 minutes before the break. Following Carlos Cuellar's early substitution after he pulled up with an injury 13 minutes into the game, defender Brown hobbled off the pitch with Republic of Ireland under-21 international John Egan coming on in his place.
Before Sunderland could regroup, Groningen snatched an equaliser thanks to Hyun-Jun Suk's acrobatic overhead kick from 12 yards out. Groningen went on to take the lead moments before half time as Mitchell Schet broke away from Kieran Richardson with ease to slot the ball past Wilson and in the far corner.
The second half began where the first had left off, with Sunderland creating chances on the counter-attack but just lacking that cutting edge to convert the chances. The manager made two changes just after the hour-mark, he replaced goalkeeper Ben Wilson with another up and coming stopper, Jordan Pickford and brought defender Louis Laing on in place of Craig Lynch.
Scorer Wickham could have doubled his tally with 20 minutes to go but was off target after hesitating with his shot and Campbell too had a number of missed opportunities. Sunderland's fifth and final and most influential substitute of the night was young striker Ryan Noble. The front man came on for Richardson and formed a three-pronged strike force with Wickham and Campbell.
He had an instant impact as Groningen seem dazzled by the youngster's pace. With just two minutes remaining Noble surged forward towards goal, selflessly he unleashed Gardner who fired the ball across for Campbell to bundle it into the net and get the long-awaited equaliser. The late drama did not end there, as Noble completed his cameo with a last-minute wonder-goal. He latched onto a cross from David Meyler on the left and skipped past three of the Dutch defenders before pulling the trigger and smashing the ball into the top corner from just outside the 18 yard box.
The travelling fans were in raptures and striker Noble was just as delighted to noth his first senior goal for Sunderland and secure the third place spot in the Peace Cup tournament.
SUNDERLAND: Wilson, Gardner, Richardson, Brown, Cuellar, Colback, Cattermole, Meyler, Lynch, Campbell, Wickham. También jugaron: Pickford, Noble, Egan, Bramble, Laing
FC GRONINGEN: Luciano, Ivens, Kappelhof, Van Dijk, Kieftenbeld, Kwakman, Bacuna, De Leeuw, Suk, Schet, Magnasco. También jugaron: Sparv, Van Moorsel, Texeira, Hiariej, Zeefuik.
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