Soccer
Sunderland secure Carabao Cup progress as Chemsdine Talbi goal sees off Hull
Chemsdine Talbi’s goal was the difference as Sunderland claimed a 1-0 win over Hull in their Carabao Cup third-round clash.
A lacklustre meeting at the Stadium of Light between the two Premier League sides eventually saw Talbi’s chipped finish put the Black Cats ahead 71 minutes in.
His effort was enough to book Sunderland’s spot in the fourth round of the competition, which takes place at the end of October.
Regis Le Bris made 11 changes from the squad who drew with Brentford at the weekend, with Dayann Methalie and Jules Ahoka handed their debuts alongside a full debut for Malick Fofana, who came off the bench against the Bees.
Sergej Jakirovic also shuffled his pack with eight switches from their goalless stalemate against Aston Villa, including full debuts for Mohamed-Ali Cho, Sorba Thomas and Robinio Vaz.
Dillon Phillips was called into action early to claw Jocelin Ta Bi’s cross over the bar and the goalkeeper made a solid dive to push away Ahoka’s header as Sunderland looked to strike early.
Hull had successive corners cleared as the half fizzled into a quiet affair, with both teams seeing the ball but struggling to test either goalkeeper.
Sunderland suddenly threatened when the ball reached Chris Rigg and the teenager played a pass into Jocelin, but the winger scuffed his shot wide.
Talbi raced into the box and forced Phillips into a low stop before Ahoka blazed an effort over from distance.
Just before the break, Vaz had a tame shot from a tight angle claimed by Melker Ellborg.
Sunderland went close after the restart when Wilson Isidor’s looping header landed on the roof of the net and Rigg curled a free-kick wide.
Hull made a triple substitution in the 59th minute and soon tested Ellborg when Thomas’ free-kick was parried away by the Sunderland goalkeeper.
However, the Black Cats eventually broke the deadlock with 19 minutes to play when they broke from a Hull corner.
Substitute Thomas Meunier flicked the ball to Talbi, who raced through the visiting defence before coolly chipping the ball over Phillips into the bottom corner.
Isidor skewed an effort wide as Sunderland looked to wrap up the win and substitute Timur Tutierov blasted over.
In a late surge, Hull searched for the equaliser when former Black Cat loanee Joe Gelhardt scuffed an effort over the bar from close range and Cho fired wide from a corner, but Sunderland saw the game out.
