New Mexico United 2-3 Sunderland: Player ratings as Ekwah, Hemir and Lihadji all score

Sunderland continued their pre-season preparations by beating New Mexico United with Pierre Ekwah, Luis Hemir, and Isaac Lihadji all on the scoresheet for the Black Cats.

Callum Jacques | Jul 20, 2023

New Mexico United 2-3 Sunderland: Player ratings as Ekwah, Hemir and Lihadji all score /

Sunderland overcame a fast start from New Mexico to take a 2-0 lead into the break.

Ekwah opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a thunderous strike from distance. Hemir made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time after a fine cross from Alex Pritchard.

Lihadji added a third for Sunderland in the second half, scoring at the second attempt after his first effort was well saved by the New Mexico goalkeeper.

New Mexico found two late goals with a deflected Dan Ballard shot looping over Matthew Young before Trai Hume conceded a penalty in stoppage time allowing New Mexico to pull another back.

Sunderland XI vs New Mexico:

Matthew Young – The 16-year-old took his chance well and made some great saves in his first appearance for the club. 7

Trai Hume – Conceded a penalty late on in the game after being beat to the ball by the New Mexico forward. 6

Dan Ballard – New Mexico’s opener will go down as an own goal from the otherwise solid Ballard. 6

Nectarios Triantis – Looked comfortable with the ball at his feet and was a threat from set-pieces throughout. 6

Luke O’Nien – Another game, another position for Mr. Versatile. Not a lot to do but didn’t put a foot wrong. 6

Dan Neil – A quiet game for Neil in midfield but still showed some nice touches and passes. 6

Pierre Ekwah – A Solid display topped off by a fantastic strike in the 38th minute to give Sunderland the lead. 7

Isaac Lihadji – Still yet to see his best in a Sunderland shirt but was on the scoresheet in the second half after two bites at the cherry. 6

Alex Pritchard – The best of all the outfield players in the first half. Should have had a penalty before assisting Hemir with a sublime cross. 7

Abdoullah Ba – The young Frenchman didn’t have much of an effect on the game in the first half but saw more of the ball in the opening stages of the second half. 6

Luis Hemir – Another headed goal for the Portuguese youth international after Pritchard’s great cross. 7

Subs: N/A

Sunderland Nation’s Man of the Match:

Matthew Young – The England youth international was very impressive in his first start for the club and made three or four saves whilst the score was still 0-0. He can find himself unlucky not to have kept a clean sheet after the ball deflected off Ballard in the 88th minute before Hume conceded a penalty in stoppage time.

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