Owls stun Black Cats

Di Piedi: Stunning goal put the Owls through

Sheff Wed 4-2 Sunderland (aet)

Sheffield Wednesday substitute Michele di Piedi scored an extra-time stunner to sink Sunderland.

The Italian star rattled an audacious overhead kick past debut goalkeeper Michael Ingham from 25 yards just one minute into added period.

Fellow substitute Pablo Bonvin drove home a low 15-yard shot in the last minute of the first period to cap a magnificent night for Peter Shreeves' men.

The Owls, without a home win this season and languishing fourth bottom of the First Division, had taken the lead on the half hour when Efan Ekoku netted a crisp right-foot shot through a crowded box.

Sunderland's equaliser arrived in rather fortunate fashion two minutes before the break when Arca's poor corner was scuffed across the box by Stanislav Varga.

Shreeves: Delighted

Ingham then tripped Ekoku as he burst clear into the Sunderland box and referee George Cain had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot, although he spared Ingham any further punishment.

Owen Morrison converted the spot-kick high to Ingham's left to give Shreeves' side a deserved half-time advantage.

Sunderland missed a glorious chance to equalise in the 52nd minute when they wasted a similar chance at the other end.

Kevin Kilbane was pulled down by Alan Quinn and Phillips stepped up to take the visitors' chance from the spot.

But Pressman, playing his 367th game for the Owls, showed Ingham how it was done by diving to his left and saving brilliantly.

Both sides picked up the pace as the second half progressed with Ekoku coming close again and substitute Laslandes heading narrowly over the bar.

Laslandes grabbed Sunderland's second equaliser 20 minutes from time when he rose unchallenged to head Kilbane's left-wing cross past Pressman.

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Sheff Wed: Pressman, Haslam, Westwood, Bromby, Maddix, Quinn, McLaren, Morrison, Soltvedt, Ekoku, Johnson. Subs: Stringer, Bonvin, Lescott, Hamshaw, Di Piedi.

Sunderland: Ingham, Williams, McCartney, Varga, Gray, Thirlwell, McCann, Arca, Kilbane, Phillips, Bellion. Subs: Kennedy, Haas, Laslandes, Kyle, Lumsdon.

Referee: G Cain (Bootle)