The Sunderland team, led by Frank Lampard, adopted a defensive strategy in their second-leg semifinal match against Coventry. The team successfully held off Coventry’s attacks for 120 minutes, forcing the game into extra time after Ephron’s 76th-minute goal leveled the aggregate score at 2-2.
Coventry pushed hard for a winning goal in extra time but couldn’t break through Sunderland’s defense. The deadlock was finally broken in the 122nd minute when Daniel Ballard headed home from a corner kick, securing Sunderland’s spot in the final.
Sunderland will now face Sheffield United, who thrashed Bristol City 6-0 on aggregate in the other semifinal. The winner will join Leeds United and Burnley in the Premier League next season.
Sunderland’s last Premier League appearance was in 2016/17, when they finished bottom and were relegated. The team’s struggles were documented in the Netflix series “Sunderland ‘Til I Die,” which followed the team as they battled relegation to League One.
After a four-year absence, Sunderland returned to the Championship. Now, they’re on the verge of returning to the Premier League, eight years after their last top-flight appearance.