Eliezer Mayenda scored an 88th-minute winner to secure a crucial 2-1 victory for Sunderland over Coventry City in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final on Friday.

At the Coventry Building Society Arena, the Black Cats took a surprise lead through Wilson Isidor, who ended a three-month goal drought with a composed finish in the 68th minute.

But Coventry City fought back almost instantly. Just 110 seconds later, the in-form Jack Rudoni met Milan van Ewijk’s cross with a powerful header to level the score.

The Sky Blues pushed hard for a winner as the game approached a frantic finish, but it was Mayenda who came up with the decisive moment in the end.

The Spaniard capitalised on a poor back-pass from Van Ewijk, rounding goalkeeper Ben Wilson and slotting home to seal Sunderland’s first win in eight games after a dismal end to the regular season.

But the job is far from done for the hosts. Mayenda’s goal has given them an edge, but there is a second leg to be played at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday to determine who will progress to the play-off final.

The winners of the tie will face either Sheffield United or Bristol City at Wembley on 24 May, with the Blades holding a 3-0 advantage going into their second leg.

We take a one-goal advantage back to the Stadium of Light! #TilTheEnd pic.twitter.com/K1OrcrTYQP

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) May 9, 2025

Data debrief: Sunderland snap streak at the right time

Sunderland entered the play-offs in woeful form, having lost five straight and scoring just once in their last six matches.

Indeed, their recent record against Coventry offered little encouragement as well. They had failed to win against the Sky Blues across their last 10 league games (D5 L5), with their last victory dating back to February 2007.

Isidor’s goal ended a 427-minute Championship scoring drought for Sunderland – their longest since going 389 minutes without scoring from 16th August 2017 to 9th September 2017.

Coventry, meanwhile, edged the expected goals (xG) battle with 1.52 xG to Sunderland’s 1.46, highlighting just how finely balanced the contest remains ahead of the second leg.