Sunderland 3-2 Ipswich

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Kevin Kyle claimed the points for Sunderland in a five-goal thriller at the Stadium of Light against Ipswich.

Following a defence-dominated first half in which the Black Cats' Gary Breen scored at either end, the game opened up in the second period.

John Oster netted for the hosts, but his strike was cancelled out by Richard Naylor as both teams looked to be heading for a draw before Kyle netted the crucial winner.

Sunderland started the stronger with forward Kyle picking the ball up 30 yards out, but his ambitious long-range drive drifted left of the upright.

Both defences looked solid with Breen and George McCartney in particular comfortably repelling the attacking threat of Ipswich forwards Shefki Kuqi and Darren Bent.

It looked as though both sides would go into half-time goalless with neither attack able to get passed the opposition defence - and it took a slice of luck to break the deadlock.

Jim Magilton whipped the ball into the area and Breen's slight touch diverted Bent's shot into his own net to gift Ipswich the lead.

Perfect start

Their advantage did not last long though as the defender then popped up at the other end to bundle home a Julio Arca cross from close range just before the interval.

Sunderland made the perfect start after the break, and took the lead with 48 minutes gone when Oster tapped home.

However, their joy did not last long as Ipswich equalised within two minutes.

Magilton picked out Naylor from a corner kick and the Town striker headed home unchallenged.

Both sides began to throw caution to the wind and Sunderland could have re-taken the lead 10 minutes into the second period.

But Breen saw his long-range effort superbly tipped around the post by Kelvin Davis.

The home side were now dominating play with Kyle wasting a clear-cut opportunity from a close-range header.

But he made amends six minutes from time when he pounced on an Oster cross to head home the winning goal.

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Sunderland: Poom, Williams, McCartney, Breen, Arca, Oster, Whitley, Healy, Butler, Kyle, Stewart. Subs: Tommy Smith, Ingham, Proctor, Bjorklund, Leadbitter.

Ipswich: Davis, Wilnis, Santos, Naylor, Richards, Wright, Bart-Williams, Magilton, Counago, Kuqi, Bent. Subs: Price, Armstrong, Bowditch, Mahon, Nash.

Referee: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire).