At the halftime whistle of the Championship play-off final, Sunderland found themselves trailing 1-0 to Sheffield United after a strong start by the Blades. The game could have easily been 2-0, but VAR intervened to deny Harrison Burrows a goal, much to the frustration of manager Chris Wilder.
However, Sunderland came out firing in the second half, with Eliezer Mayenda scoring a stunning equalizer in the 76th minute. Confidence soared in the final minutes of the game, culminating in Tommy Watson’s promotion-clinching goal in injury time. It was a moment of pure magic that sent Sunderland back to the Premier League for the first time in eight years.
But it was the halftime talk by manager Regis Le Bris that turned the tide for Sunderland. Mayenda revealed that Le Bris remained calm and confident, providing the team with the boost they needed to make a comeback. The young forward described the roller coaster of emotions throughout the match and highlighted Le Bris’ calming influence as crucial to their success.
As Mayenda looks ahead to playing in the Premier League for the first time, he knows he will face challenges, but his growth and development under Le Bris have prepared him for the next level. Sunderland fans can look forward to seeing the talented youngster shine as they enter a new era in the club’s history. Without Mayenda’s crucial contributions, Sunderland may not have secured promotion, making his role in the team invaluable.
