The magic of the FA Cup lives on. The spell that this famous old competition casts is at its most powerful on third round day.
That is traditionally the time for shocks, when lower league - and non-league - sides deliver a bloody nose to the big boys. But there was a different kind of sorcery on show at the rain-soaked New Meadow.
It was a now-you-see-it, now-you-don't moment as Championship Sunderland made League One Shrewsbury Town's chances of a cup upset vanish in the blink of an eye. Shrewsbury, who had hit the crossbar in the first half through Luke Leahy, had gone in front through Matt Pennington's set-piece goal ten minutes from time.
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That goal came totally against the run of play but, given it had arrived ten minutes from time, it was late enough in the game to give the Shrews belief that they could hold on to win. Sunderland had dominated the game, with Patrick Roberts and Amad tormenting the home defence, but they just could not make their chances count.
At least, not in the regulation 90 minutes. It took until the second minute of injury time when their talismanic striker Ross Stewart, on as a substitute for the final half-hour, broke the hosts' resistance to head in from a corner, scoring for the fifth game in a row since his return from injury, and seemingly sparing his side's blushes by earning a replay.
There was still time for more magic, however, and it duly arrived two minutes later when Luke O'Nien broke Shrewsbury hearts with a goal that booked Sunderland a place in the fourth round. It was a victory Sunderland fully deserved, as Tony Mowbray acknowledged afterwards, and one whose manner his opposite number Steve Cotterill admitted left him 'lost for words'.
With injuries depriving him of eight senior players, Mowbray was effectively forced to name a strong side on a day when he would ordinarily have liked to have rested five or more core first-teamers, having to settle for three changes instead. As it was, he had to name two goalkeepers and four U18s amongst the nine subs - although it meant there was a big day for England youth international midfielder Chris Rigg, who became the club's youngest ever outfielder at the age of 15 years and 203 days when he came on for the final nine minutes.
The turnaround, and specifically the lateness of the turnaround, provided the drama as Sunderland's 1,600 sold-out away following were left rubbing their eyes in disbelief. Progress came as welcome relief given Sunderland miserable recent record in this competition.
The Black Cats have not reached the fourth round stage since 2015, and had won only one FA Cup tie in seven seasons since - an away win in the first round at Port Vale in 2018. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Sunderland's fabled FA Cup triumph against Leeds United at Wembley in 1973, when they became the last team to bring the trophy to the North-East.
For the Black Cats to bow out with a whimper in the third round this season against third-tier opposition would have been a sorry way to mark the occasion. But instead they are in the hat for the fourth round draw.
And while no-one expects Sunderland to lift the cup in a season when their league campaign must take precedence, there is no harm in keeping the dream alive for as long as possible.
READ NEXT:
- Shrewsbury Town boss Steve Cotterill 'lost for words' at late FA Cup turnaround against Sunderland
- Sunderland looking to add central midfielder after letting Jay Matete leave on loan
- Sunderland's late turnaround in the FA Cup delivered the 'right result', insists Tony Mowbray
- Patrick Roberts and Luke O'Nien star as Sunderland beat Shrewsbury in FA Cup third round
- Sunderland stage astonishing injury-time turnaround to beat Shrewsbury and reach FA Cup 4th round
