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Sunderland’s 2025: Their Top Three Moments

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports | By Barry Dixon | Last updated Dec 30, 2025 9:00 AM ET

2025 has been one of the very best for Sunderland fans. They returned to the Premier League after years in League One and the Championship, and they did it in dramatic fashion. They have also taken the Premier League by storm, ending 2025 in seventh place and unbeaten at home.

Here we look at Sunderland’s top three moments from the past year. Is your favourite Sunderland moment from the last 12 months here?

Sunderland’s 2025: Their Top Three Moments

Dan Ballard’s Last-Second Goal vs Coventry City

The Championship playoff semifinal between Sunderland and Coventry City appeared to be heading to a penalty shoot-out with the sides drawing 2-2 on aggregate.

The Black Cats won a 121st-minute corner. It was now or never in normal play. Enzo Le Fee swung in the corner, and it was met by Dan Ballard, whose header went in off the underside of the crossbar to take the roof off the Stadium of Light and produce scenes on and off the pitch that many had never witnessed. The goal time? 121:59. One second before the final whistle.

Tommy Watson’s Late Winner at Wembley vs Sheffield United

Sheffield United took a first-half lead in the Playoff Final and were the better team until VAR intervened to disallow a second. Sunderland then took advantage of a deflated United and became the dominant team and equalised on 76 minutes; however, another stressful extra time for the fans loomed until a misplaced pass by the Blades allowed winger Tommy Watson to run at goal.

Everyone in Wembley believed that the youngster who has now departed Sunderland for Brighton would pass the ball; however, he calmly passed the ball into the corner of the net to on 95 minutes to seal victory, a Premier League return, and ensure the noise from the Sunderland fans shook Wembley like never before.

Newcastle Defeated

Just a few short years ago, Sunderland were playing third-tier football, and their bitter rivals Newcastle were being bought, making them the richest club in the world. Fast forward to December 2025, and the Black Cats beat the Magpies and are currently seven places above them in the Premier League. It was a game that Sunderland deserved to win, and it gave their fans, who have endured so much over the years, a moment that will live long in the memory and once again give them bragging rights over their close rivals and neighbours.

An own goal from Magpie striker Nick Woltemade gave Sunderland all three points in a game that they outplayed and out-fought a Newcastle side that looked beaten from the moment the game began.