Sunderland squander opportunity to go fifth following their home draw against Leeds United

Sunderland were without six players due to AFCON and were missing key figure Dan Ballard in defence.

Regis Le Bris' side were seventh before the match, and were targeting three points to move fifth in the league with a win. The Black Cats were unbeaten at home before the game, earning 18 points from eight home fixtures.

The deadlock was broken through Simon Adingra, who was left out of Ivory Coast's AFCON 2025 squad. A precise through ball from Granit Xhaka cut open the Leeds United defence, and Adingra pounced on the loose ball, before curling home past Lucas Perri. Le Bris' side was in the lead with 28 minutes played.

In the 39th minute, Trai Hume produced a crucial goalline clearance, as Brenden Aaronson took a shot which beat Robin Roefs, but the covering defender cleared off the line to keep Sunderland in the lead.

In the second minute of added time, Brian Brobbey was played through, and his shot was scuffed, squandering a golden opportunity to double his team's lead. Less than one minute later, a quick counter-attack from Sunderland saw Adingra cross a perfect ball to Brobbey, who headed goalwards, but his shot crashed off the bar and went out for a goal kick.

At the break Sunderland led 1-0, but both sides missed multiple opportunities in the first 45.

The second half saw Leeds United start brightly, with the side levelling quickly after the interval.

One minute and 50 seconds was all Leeds needed at the start of the second half to be brought back on level terms.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin found space in between the Sunderland defence, and his first-time strike rolled past Roefs, bringing Daniel Farke’s side level.

The striker had scored in his sixth consecutive game for the Yorkshire side, as they looked to get something from the game.

The momentum was in Leeds United's hands, who looked to score a second goal in the match. Despite creating good chances, they could not convert one of them.

In the end, the honours were even, with the final scoreline being: Sunderland 1-1 Leeds United.

A depleted Sunderland side took the lead but were pegged back soon after the half-time break. The Black Cats are seventh in the table, missing out on the opportunity to move fifth. Leeds are seven points clear of the relegation zone, in 16th.