Sunderland AFC recorded a 2-0 victory over RC Lens in their penultimate pre-season friendly on Saturday. Second-half goals from Trai Hume and Wilson Isidor secured the win in France.
The match marked the return of Granit Xhaka to the line-up for the first time this pre-season, following his involvement with Switzerland at the FIFA World Cup. Summer signing Thomas Meunier also made his first appearance in Sunderland colours since joining the club in July.
Early chances and near-misses
Sunderland made a bright start and came close to breaking the deadlock in the 17th minute. Xhaka rolled the ball into the path of Enzo Le Fée, whose effort was deflected into Hume's path on the edge of the box. The Northern Ireland international struck the crossbar with a first-time effort.
Sunderland continued to threaten, with Nilson Angulo showing good pace to get beyond goalkeeper Mathieu Gorgelin before his attempted square pass towards Brian Brobbey was intercepted.
Brobbey thought he had found the breakthrough shortly before half-time when he raced onto Le Fée's clever pass and fired against the crossbar, but the flag was raised for offside.
Meunier then had a goal ruled out deep into first-half stoppage time after heading home Xhaka's cross. The referee adjudged the Belgian to have pushed his marker.
Second-half breakthrough
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 66th minute. Chris Rigg, moments after coming off the bench, delivered a superb in-swinging cross from the right. Hume timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap, bravely glancing his header beyond the goalkeeper.
Sunderland then sealed victory in the 82nd minute. Chemsdine Talbi picked out Isidor's smart run in the box, and the Haitian striker cleverly poked the ball beyond the Lens goalkeeper.
What's next
Régis Le Bris' side will now turn their attention to their final friendly of the summer against Stade Rennais at the Stadium of Light next Saturday.
