20/07/2025
SEVILLA REPORT
BY BEN HARDIE
Sunderland were denied two pre-season wins from two via a goal with virtually the last kick of the game but, aside from that dampener, there were plenty of positives to take from the performance.
In the days leading up to kick off there were a few pieces of news, the main two being that Armand Lauriente was due to complete his medical before flying out to Portugal to join the Lads and also that Romaine Mundle had deleted a few Sunderland posts on Instagram and then been largely absent from the club’s social media posts since, as well as reportedly leaving the camp. Obviously, this fuelled speculation he was away as the club were/are trying to get him to sign a new contract and we were about to bring in another left winger.
However, it turns out that his hamstring injury had reoccurred and he required surgery and the deal for Lauriente ended up falling through very unexpectedly the day after the match. I’m not sure what to make of this: we do now get to keep Mundle until at least January you’d have to think, but how many games will he actually manage before then? As long as he’s back before AFCON it shouldn’t be too much of a worry because we’ll need him then when a lot of our new signings go for the tournament. Lauriente not coming is a huge shame but if the deal wasn’t right you can’t blame the club for cancelling it.
For the game itself we kicked off with a stronger XI in the first half before making 10 changes during the break with a mixture of second choice and academy players making up the team. The only constant was Simon Moore between the sticks, presumably Patterson will play the full 90 vs Sporting CP.
Our first half lineup was this:
Moore, Hume, Ballard, Seelt, Huggins, Talbi, Sadiki, Diarra, Adingra, Le Fee, Mayenda.
So it would be the first run-outs in a Sunderland shirt for Talbi, Sadiki and Adingra. Except a powerful shot in the first five minutes, that Moore saved, Sevilla didn’t threaten too much or have a lot of the ball in opening 45. Sadiki had our first effort of the game and Adingra flashed one across the box but nobody met it. There were then a couple of shouts for fouls on Mayenda, one outside and one inside the box. The one inside the box would have been a penalty you’d assume had he not been judged offside, but I’ve been told he definitely wasn’t and the linesman got it wrong. Simon Adingra was then dragged down via a pull on his shirt in the area but the referee waved it away, this one definitely should have resulted in a spot kick. Mayenda should have opened the scoring a few minutes later but he messed up his first touch after a low ball from Huggins. A goal did finally come though, Le Fee charged onto a loose pass at the back and put it home, a very similar goal to the one Eliezer Mayenda scored versus Coventry City. Talbi and Adingra both had chances afterwards and Diarra blasted a shot well over from only a few yards out. Before the break, the other side had a couple of half chances.
Adingra and Sadiki looked good, with the former admittedly not being too clinical in the final third but doing well to get into decent positions. Diarra was solid in the middle and Talbi had a quieter game than his new signing counterpart on the opposite wing, he still had his moments though. Moore wasn’t too busy, he had more to do after the interval. The defence wasn’t very busy so there’s not much to comment on on that front and Le Fee looked his usual sharp self.
Our second half lineup was this:
Moore, Jenson Jones, Lavery, Johnson, Harrison Jones, Roberts, Neil, Browne, Aleksic, Abdullahi, Isidor.
The first 15 minutes were relatively quiet until Sevilla made a few changes on the hour mark. Isidor had looked bright but it just hadn’t come off for him, Jenson Jones and Zak Johnson had looked collected at the back, with the latter doing well in the air and the former helping out going forward. Neil almost made a blunder, sending a simple pass back towards Moore too heavily. It drifted through his feet and almost crept over the line but our goalkeeper managed to clear. Moore was called into action again a couple of minutes later, saving an initial shot and then denying the rebound at point blank range. 15 minutes from time, Abdullahi was booked for being involved in a scuffle and then Isidor broke away on the right wing but he couldn’t find anyone in the box. Sevilla wasted a great chance from a few yards out and then Johnson blocked one in the danger area. Abdullahi spun around his man with five minutes to go and fired into the side netting.
Johnson was given a harsh yellow card and then we really should have made it 2-0. Aleksic sent our Nigerian striker away on the left wing and he dribbled into the box into a great shooting opportunity but he decided to be selfless and square to Isidor. Unfortunately, the ball was too tame and it was cleared. Johnson was involved in the action again during stoppage time, clearing in the box and then bursting forward into the other half and winning a free kick. Abdullahi was dragged down by his collar with seconds remaining just outside the Sevilla box but nothing was given, play was briefly stopped for treatment and then he came off briefly. We then conceded whilst reduced to ten men, rather unlucky and I think Moore’s view of the shot was blocked by an offside player.
Defensively, we worked hard second half and shouldn’t have conceded. We didn’t do too much going forward but what we did was good. Abdullahi was great and better decision making will come with more game time. Isidor was active but the three standout players in my opinion were Jenson Jones and especially Zak Johnson and Simon Moore. Harrison Jones is naturally an attacking midfielder so judging him as a left back feels a bit pointless. Neil had a more mixed game and Browne did well.
Overall, a decent warmup where we showcased our abilities with a stronger XI and showed we can play without our first choice players relatively effectively.
