Ahead of Tuesday’s Checkatrade Trophy clash with the Sunderland first team, the Magpies Under-23s came from behind to beat their Black Cats counterparts.
One down, one to go.
Ahead of Tuesday night’s Checkatrade Trophy clash between Sunderland and Newcastle Under-23s, the young Magpies have emerged triumphant in the ‘first leg’ of two Tyne-Wear derbies in quick succession.
On Friday, Newcastle U23s took on their Sunderland counterparts in a behind-closed-doors fixture at the Academy of Light and, despite falling two goals behind, surged back to complete a Premier League 2 double over their bitter rivals this season.
At first, it seemed as though the Black Cats looked set for victory after forward Lee Connelly opened the scoring due to a defensive mix-up at the back before fellow frontman Jack Diamond’s 40-yard lob doubled the hosts’ lead.
However, the Magpies pulled a goal back through 17-year-old striker Thomas Allan just before half-time, while highly-rated midfielder Elias Sorensen levelled on the hour to leave the game poised on a knife’s edge.
Winger Callum Roberts, who had hit the post in the first half, then blazed a penalty over the bar, but substitute Rosaire Longelo sealed the comeback, the left-back rifling home in injury time.
Here’s how some Newcastle fans reacted to the result – with an eye on Tuesday’s clash – on Twitter at full time:
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