Middlesbrough vs Sunderland
Match pulse
MIDAttacking pressure by 5 minutes
Who won: Sunderland 2-0
Sunderland beat Middlesbrough 2-0 on Sunday, September 25, 2005 at The Riverside Stadium. Goals for Sunderland: Tommy Miller (2') and Julio Arca (60').
Play by play
- 93'
FULL-TIME: Sunderland claim their first win of the season. Boro lacked a cutting edge up front, and the visitors deserved the points. Breen was immense at the back for Sunderland - my Man of the Match by a distance.
- 92'
Oooh! Another superb save from Davis as he keeps out Boateng's low shot from the edge of the area. He has been excellent this afternoon, though that is the first shot on target in the second half.
- 91'
The Sunderland fans are in great heart as the game enters the final few seconds; they are loving this.
- 90'
SUB: Whitehead off, Lawrence on. McCarthy wastes a little more time with another substitution.
- 89'
Southgate loses his cool when Gray goes down under a challenge from behind; free-kick to Sunderland.
- 88'
Nosworthy's back-pass from the half-way line is woeful and drifts out for a corner. Boro take it quickly but Boateng plants his header well wide of the post.
- 86'
Rochemback's wretched afternoon continues as he hottibly miscues a shot from the edge of the area after Viduka had laid the ball back.
- 85'
For the second time this afternoon, Sunderland sprint out of defence as Rochemback prepares to take a set-piece, catching four Boro players off-side.
- 84'
Middlesbrough desperately need a goal, but all they can come up with are long balls up to Hasselbaink and Viduka; there has been no thought to their play in this second half.
- 83'
Maccarrone mis-controls Pogatetz's pass down the left wing, and Sunderland win a throw. The game is slipping away from the home side.
- 82'
SUB: Le Tallac on, Elliott off. A striker for a striker. Elliott has run himself in to the ground this afternoon.
- 81'
Whitehead takes his time over a corner, and wins a free-kick when Rochemback brings him down near the corner flag.
- 80'
Sunderland prepare to make a change as they try to close in on their first Premiership win of the season; a win that would leave Everton on the bottom of the table.
- 79'
Viduka trips Arca as the Sunderland man crosses the half-way line, but has the grace and good manners to apologise for his indiscresion.
- 78'
Pogatatz wins his side a corner when Nosworthy blocks his cross and the ball deflects behind, but Sunderland cope with the set-piece easily.
- 77'
Whitehead is helped to his feet by the Sunderland physio, and is greeted by a round of boos from the home crowd.
- 76'
Whitehead falls swkwardly after a challenge with Pogatatz; Boro are furious, believing the Sunderland man to be timewasting.
- 75'
Boro look a little clueless in the final third this afternoon; most of their play is coming through the middle, and Breen and Caldwell have coped comfortably.
- 74'
Hasselbaink is furious as he is caught off-side from Boateng's pass; he implores his team-mate to release the ball quicker and to up the tempo.
- 73'
The home side win a free-kick when Parlour is brought down. The ball is rolled to Hasselbaink who strikes a 30-yard shot goalwards, though it is blocked inside the penalty area.
- 72'
Middlesbrough are having almost all of the ball now, but they have still to have a shot on target in the second half.
- 71'
A decisive passing move sets Maccarrone free inside the penalty area, but Breen reads his cut-back towards Hasselbaink and the veteran defender clears the danger.
- 70'
Pogatatz takes a throw deep in the Sunderland half, but the visitors are so organised and committed in defence that the home side cannot create anything.
- 69'
Hoyte breaks in to some space down the left, and almost wins his side a corner; Maccarrone has tracked back, though, and clears for a throw.
- 68'
Gray and Elliott are still causing a few moments of panic in the Boro defence, especially from long balls that they refuse to give up on.
Leaders
MIDSUN