Sunderland are once again in pursuit of a place at Wembley, hoping to secure another shot at glory this season. As the club fights for a coveted spot in the Championship play-offs, a legendary former player looks back on one of Sunderland’s most unforgettable afternoons at the iconic stadium.
With 39 league games played, Sunderland’s season remains in a delicate balance. Under the management of Regis Le Bris, the Black Cats started the campaign in thrilling fashion, even reaching the top of the table for several weeks. However, their form has dipped since the turn of the year, leaving them firmly in fourth place. Now, their fate appears destined to be decided in the drama of the Championship play-offs.
For Sunderland, Wembley finals are nothing new. The club has experienced its fair share of high-stakes clashes in the capital, and with another potential play-off final on the horizon, one revered Sunderland figure has revisited his own moment of near triumph.
Aiden McGeady Remembers His Magical Wembley Moment
Aiden McGeady is widely regarded as a modern-day Sunderland legend. Though his time at the club coincided with their painful drop into League One, his contributions on the pitch earned him a special place in the hearts of the Stadium of Light faithful. Across his five seasons with Sunderland, McGeady made 150 appearances and delivered an impressive 71 goal contributions.
Among his standout performances, his display in the 2018/19 EFL Trophy Final against Portsmouth remains one of the most memorable. McGeady showcased his brilliance with an early free-kick masterpiece and later delivered a dramatic 119th-minute equalizer. However, his heroics ultimately fell short, as Sunderland suffered a heartbreaking 5-4 defeat in the penalty shootout in front of 40,000 traveling fans.
Reflecting on that emotional afternoon, McGeady recalled the electric atmosphere inside Wembley. Speaking on the What the Falk podcast, he said: “It was probably the atmosphere that made it such a memorable experience. There were 80,000 fans, split between Sunderland and Portsmouth, and to have that kind of turnout for a League One trophy final was unbelievable.”
Though the occasion was bittersweet, McGeady acknowledged just how close Sunderland came to securing silverware. “It’s not something to celebrate, but we had so many near misses at Wembley. It was a real opportunity to win a trophy,” he reflected. “We played really well in the first half, but then we started sitting back, absorbing pressure, and you could just sense a goal was coming.”
As for his late equalizer, McGeady described the overwhelming emotions of the moment. “The atmosphere when I scored that second goal—I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. We all went mad, but then suddenly, reality hit… penalties. We all thought, ‘We’ve just come back, we’ll probably win on penalties.’”
Unfortunately, fate had other plans, and Sunderland’s dream of lifting the trophy was shattered in the shootout. Nevertheless, McGeady’s performance remains a cherished memory for Sunderland fans, a reminder of the passion and drama that comes with wearing the red and white at Wembley.
Leave a Reply