Alan Browne put his Republic of Ireland disappointment behind him to help earn Sunderland a point in a dramatic finish against Leeds United at the Stadium of Light.
Browne was left out of Heimir Halgrimsson's squad for the upcoming Nations League visits to Finland and Greece, but he eased his woes somewhat by forcing Leeds goalkeeper Ilian Meslier into a late error in a dramatic 2-2 draw.
Sunderland took an early lead through teenager Chris Rigg but Leeds fought back and levelled through Joel Piroe's header.
The visitors then took advantage shortly after the break through Junior Firpo’s low strike, which looked to have sealed victory until a howler from goalkeeper Meslier in the dying seconds of the match allowed Browne’s deflected cross to bounce into the net.
A draw leaves Sunderland two points clear at the top of the table ahead of the weekend’s remaining fixtures, while Leeds sit third after missing the chance to draw level on points with their opponents.
The hosts caused some early problems down the right flank and had a chance when Patrick Roberts found Jobe Bellingham in the centre of the box, but the midfielder fired over the bar.
The Black Cats utilised the right again as Roberts threaded the ball in to Trai Hume and the full-back rolled a pass across goal for Dennis Cirkin, who had a strike clawed off the line by Meslier.
However, the resulting loose ball fell to the feet of Rigg, who fired a low effort home in the ninth minute.
Leeds began to hold on to the ball more and threatened when Joe Rothwell hit a brilliant overhead pass into Brenden Aaronson, who had his shot well blocked.
Moments after hitting an attempted back-heel wide of the target, Piroe levelled in the 22nd minute, nodding the ball into the bottom right
Sunderland
soccer
Sport
alan
Brenden Aaronson
Leeds United
Patrick Roberts
Joe Rothwell
Joel Piroe
Alan Browne