Sunderland 1-1 Bournemouth: Van Aanholt Secures Point For Black Cats

The Black Cats were made to settle for a point at the Stadium of Light as Patrick Van Aanholt’s equaliser cancelled out Afobe’s early opener .

Bournemouth had the first real chance of the game on 10 mins after a good spell of possession led to Gosling finding space on the right side but his low cross flashed across goal with Afobe narrowly missing it.

Afobe didn’t have to wait long before finding the net as he opened the scoring on 12 minutes. A wicked ball sent in by Stanislas from the right wing found the on rushing Afobe whose header nestled in the far corner despite Mannone getting a glove on it.

Bournemouth should have been two in front on 26 minutes after Brown came out of defence leaving a two on one but Afobe shot straight at Mannone instead of passing to Stanislas who was better positioned.

It took Sunderland 33 minutes to get a shot on target when Jones headed back across goal to O’Shea who headed the ball towards the bottom corner but Boruc clawed it away.

Sunderland saw more of the ball towards the end of the first half and Borini had a chance on 44 mins but his deflected effort from the edge of the area was saved by Boruc.

Sunderland got their equaliser against the run of play in added time through Patrick Van Aanholt. A lovely move ending with Johnson sliding Van Aanholt through on the left side and the full back rifled home the equaliser past Boruc.

Sunderland looked brighter after the break and Defoe had an opportunity after beating two Bournemouth defenders but his shot curled past the post.

Soon after Defoe’s chance Billy Jones saw a free header palmed away from close range after latching on to Johnson’s cross.

Bournemouth nearly retook the lead on 80 minutes after Stanislas drove at Jones before laying it off to Ritchie whose deflected shot went narrowly wide.

The Cherries had a golden chance to score on 83 minutes when Grabban was played clean through one on one but the forward squandered the opportunity by dragging his shot well wide.

Sunderland (4-3-3): Mannone, Jones, Van Aanholt, O’Shea (c), Brown, Cattermole, M’Vila, Borini (Watmore 66’), Johnson, Lens (Rodwell 87’), Defoe.

Subs: Pickford, Yedlin, Coates, Rodwell, Watmore, N’Doye, Fletcher.

Goals: Van Aanholt (45+1)

Bournemouth (4-5-1): Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Surman, Stanislas (Murray 90+1’), Gosling, Arter, Pugh (Ritchie 56’), Afobe (Grabban 64’).

Subs: Feferici, Distin, O’Kane, Ritchie, Grabban, Iturbe, Murray.

Goals: Afobe (12’)