Awoniyi scores as Conventry City beat Sunderland to escape relegation

By Tosin Omojola

Nigerian international Taiwo Awoniyi scored as Frank Lampard’s Coventry City beat Sunderland to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone, leaving the visitors bottom.

Tatsuhiro Sakamoto opened the scoring in the 17th minute after Sunderland failed to clear a cross. Awoniyi doubled Coventry’s lead in the 37th minute, dispossessing Luke O’Nien before powering through the defence and seeing his shot deflect in.

Jack Rudoni made it 3-0 seven minutes after half-time when his effort deflected off Omar Alderete. Sunderland pulled one back through Enzo Le Fée’s 67th-minute penalty, awarded after a VAR review for handball by Ethan Pinnock, but could not mount a comeback.

Alderete was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card as Sunderland suffered their sixth defeat in nine league matches.