Sunderland edge Charlton in thriller

Ilic let in three goals at Sunderland

Sunderland 3-2 Charlton

Sunderland took a step closer to a Uefa Cup place next season after beating Charlton at the Stadium of Light.

In a pulsating clash, Sunderland made the most of their chances as their home campaign ended on a high.

Kevin Phillips, on his return from injury, was busy throughout and his performance was capped with a goal in the second half.

In a manic nine minutes in the first half there were three goals, two to Sunderland and one to Charlton.

A glorious goal from Kevin Kilbane sent Sunderland on their way but they were pegged back by a Matt Svensson equaliser.

Kilbane scored a scorcher

Niall Quinn put daylight between the two teams before Phillips made it 3-1.

Claus Jensen grabbed a goal back on the hour to make for a fitting end to a thrilling match - but Sunderland held on to claim three valuable points.

Before the match had started, the fans were treated to singing from Shola Ama and a fireworks display.

And the game lived up to the pre-match entertainment.

We got battered at Everton last year - and I mean battered - so we've got to improve on that one if we want to qualify for Europe

  Sunderland manager Peter Reid

In the first couple of minutes, Charlton's Jonatan Johansson was dispossessed as he was lining up a shot, setting Sunderland up for a counter attack.

Kilbane charged down the field and after a neat one-two with the fit again Phillips, crossed the ball but it was too long for Quinn.

Kilbane and Phillips were again in the thick of the action when Phillips laid on a shot for the Republic of Ireland international but his goal-bound toe poke was cleared off the line by Mark Fish.

  Key incidents

11mins: Kilbane puts Sunderland 1-0 ahead

18mins: Matt Svensson equalises

20mins: Niall Quinn makes it 2-0 to Sunderland

50mins: Kevin Phillips puts Sunderland 3-0 up

60mins: Claus Jensen pulls a goal back for Charlton

In the 12th minute Kilbane's hard work paid dividends. He sped in field from the left and hit a shot on the run, which flew past Sasa Ilic to put the Black Cats 1-0 ahead.

They could have increased their lead a minute later but Quinn's header just flashed wide.

Charlton may have been rocked, but they drew level in the 18th minute when John Robinson's cross was headed goalwards by Johansson and Svensson finished it with an acrobatic overhead kick.

Charlton were on level terms for less than two minutes, though, as Quinn planted the perfect header past Ilic from a deep Stefan Schwarz cross to make it 2-1 to Sunderland.

Back came Charlton but Graham Stuart's shot flew just over the bar in what was a riveting first-half at the Stadium of Light.

The second half started at the same blistering pace with Phillips forcing a save from Ilic after a low shot.

It just seemed as if both teams were hell bent on not scoring but letting goals in, and some of the defending out there - and I'm only talking about my side because I'm entitled to - was poor

  Charlton manager Alan Curbishley

Minutes later he grabbed Sunderland's third goal with a sweet volley from Don Hutchison's cross.

It was Phillips' first goal in six games - and boy did he celebrate.

Fluffed chance

Charlton refused to lie down and their hard work paid off when Jensen's drilled shot wrong-footed Thomas Sorensen after good work on the left from Svensson and Stuart to make it 3-2.

It only seemed to spur Sunderland on and Phillips had a volley from a corner cleared off the line.

But back came Charlton and Stuart should have done better when the ball arrived at his feet six yards out and he fluffed his shot and with it Charlton's chances.

It was a fantastic game and will long live in the memories of the Sunderland fans who celebrated in the sunshine.

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Sunderland: Sorensen, Carteron, Thome, Craddock, Gray, Hutchison, McCann, Schwarz, Kilbane, Phillips, Quinn. Subs: Macho, Williams, Thirlwell, Butler, Kyle.
Charlton: Ilic, Powell, Brown, Todd, Fish, Stuart, Kinsella, Jensen, Robinson, Svensson, Johansson. Subs: Kishishev, Newton, Konchesky, Lisbie, Caig.
Referee: S Dunn (Bristol)