Eliezer Mayenda tormented Sheffield Wednesday once again as his controversial brace helped Sunderland boost their Sky Bet Championship automatic promotion hopes with a 2-1 victory at Hillsborough.
The Spaniard scored two goals during the Black Cats’ 4-0 win over Wednesday in August and he grabbed both, including a contentious opener, on Friday night to help his side move within five points of second-placed Sheffield United.
The hosts had an early penalty appeal waved away before Mayenda opened the scoring after 34 minutes.
A hopeful long ball from Leo Hjelde was misjudged by Max Lowe and controlled by the arm of the forward, before his scuffed effort was deflected past the onrushing James Beadle and into the net.
Chris Mepham’s indecision gifted an equaliser for the hosts as Callum Paterson headed home three minutes after the restart, but Mayenda’s header from a brilliant Trai Hume cross in the 71st minute ensured Sunderland returned to winning ways after successive league defeats.
A couple of early long throws from Svante Ingelsson caused chaos in the away box, which saw a strong penalty appeal waved away.
Visiting defenders Hjelde and Mepham both challenged for the same ball and it appeared to strike the arm of the former, but a spot-kick was not given by referee Will Finnie.
Mayenda warmed the hands of Beadle from the edge of the area, while Josh Windass spurned a glorious 17th-minute opportunity at the other end.
A driving run from Djeidi Gassama opened up the space for Barry Bannan to link up with the overlapping Pol Valentin, whose low cross was swept over by Windass from 12 yards.
Paterson went even closer to opening the scoring in the 26th minute when another lightning break from the Owls saw the forward narrowly head over from another Valentin cross.
Michael Ihiekwe tamely headed into Anthony Patterson’s hands from a corner before the away side took the lead in contentious style.
Low misjudged Hjelde’s long ball and despite Mayenda appearing to control with his arm, the forward slotted in via a deflection from the recovering defender.
Wednesday were level after the interval when Ingelsson capitalised on a mistake from Mepham to clip a cross for Paterson to nod home in the 48th minute – their first goal against a top-four club in seven matches this campaign.
Swedish midfielder Ingelsson almost gave the hosts the lead three minutes later when their high press saw Sunderland give away possession, but his rising drive was tipped over by Patterson.
Sunderland carved out their first attack of the second period when Mayenda beat Ihiekwe on the outside before cutting back for Alan Browne, but his effort was blocked behind by Ingelsson.
However, the Black Cats regained the lead with 19 minutes remaining through Mayenda’s free header from six yards courtesy of Hume’s magnificent delivery.
Romaine Mundle’s fizzing free-kick in the 84th minute was wonderfully kept out by Beadle, while Gassama fired straight into the arms of Patterson from the edge of the box.
In stoppage time, Gassama saw a powerful effort blocked by an army of Sunderland defenders as the Owls succumbed to a third straight league loss to dent their play-off aspirations.
