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Port Vale 1-0 Sunderland: Report, result, goals as Waine goal seals FA Cup shock

Port Vale beat Sunderland in the FA Cup

Written by Ben Miller
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Port Vale 1-0 Sunderland: Report, result, goals as Waine goal seals FA Cup shock

Matchwinner Ben Waine said Port Vale “love” their Vale Park pitch after the bottom side in League One beat Premier League club Sunderland to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1954.

New Zealand international Waine, who hopes to play at the 2026 World Cup, produced the decisive moment with a 28th-minute header as the Valiants scored with their only attempt on target to beat opponents who are 11th in the top flight.

Eliezer Mayenda headed against a post for the Black Cats in the fourth minute and visiting goalkeeper Melker Ellborg made an extraordinary save to prevent Port Vale from scoring sooner, expertly heading the ball over the bar when Luke O’Nien almost lobbed him with an attempted backpass from a tight angle near the halfway line.

Analysis: Ben Waine on how Port Vale beat Sunderland

Waine, who scored the 112th-minute winner in Vale’s 1-0 win after extra time over Championship club Bristol City in the fourth round, said the result was “unbelievable”.

“Look at this place,” Waine told TNT Sports. “I’ve never seen it like this. We’re on a roll. We defended for our lives and every single player was amazing.

“I know it wasn’t pretty – probably not the best game to watch – but we dug in so hard and deserved it. We stuck to the gameplan. We love this pitch and we played to the conditions.”

Former Mansfield Town and Plymouth Argyle forward Waine described the drama as “hands down” and “easily” the best experience of his career.

“I was going to say Newcastle but I watched their [defeat to Manchester City] last night,” the Magpies fan replied when he was asked who Vale want to draw next.

“Whoever it is, we’ll hopefully take it to them and it will be another great game.”

Port Vale team vs Sunderland

Tyler Magloire moved to the bench for Vale, having been a doubt. Forward Dajaune Brown and midfielder Funso Ojo came in, with Martin Sherif on the bench.

Defender Ben Heneghan was injured, as were midfielders George Byers, Ryan Croasdale and Ben Garrity.

Port Vale starting XI: Joe Gauci, Kyle John, Cameron Humphreys, Connor Hall, Dajaune Brown, Rhys Walters, Jordan Gabriel, Liam Gordon, Ben Waine, Ethon Archer, Funso Ojo

Port Vale substitutes: Ben Amos, Jaheim Headley, Jordan Shipley, Tyrese Campbell, Grant Ward, George Hall, Tyler Magloire, Andre Gray, Onel Hernandez

Sunderland team vs Port Vale

Sunderland made two changes: full-back Trai Hume and midfielder Noah Sadiki were suspended, so Chris Rigg and Chemsdine Talbi started.

Goalkeeper Robin Roefs, defenders Dennis Cirkin, Reinildo Mandava and Nordi Mukiele, midfielders Jocelin Ta Bi and Romain Mundle and forwards Bertrand Traore and Brian Brobbey were injured.

Sunderland starting XI: Melker Ellborg, Luke O’Nien, Daniel Ballard, Omar Alderete, Lutsharel Geertruida, Chris Rigg, Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra, Chemsdine Talbi, Nilson David Angulo Ramirez, Eliezer Mayenda

Sunderland substitutes: Simon Moore, Jaydon Jones, Granit Xhaka, Jack Whittaker, Milan Aleksić, Harrison Martin Jones, Wilson Isidor, Finn Geragusian, Ahmed Abdullahi

A photo of the English FA Cup trophy

Port Vale vs Sunderland stats

  • This was the sixth FA Cup meeting between the sides. Vale were unbeaten in the first four between 1936 and 1962 (including two draws, winning the replay at home on both occasions) but had lost the previous two, 3-0 away in January 1992 and 2-1 at home in November 2018
  • Port Vale were playing in the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1995/96, when they lost against Premier League side Leeds in a replay
  • Vale had been winless in their last 15 meetings with Premier League opponents in all competitions (D4 L11), since a 2-1 win over Everton in the 1995/96 FA Cup fourth round
  • They had drawn their last three league home games, sharing the points with Luton Town, Reading and Burton Albion
  • Waine has scored once in each of their last two home matches and three of their last five goals at Vale Park
  • The Valiants have clean sheets in three of their last four matches and have not conceded more than one in any of their last four. They have conceded fewer than two goals in 15 of their last 22 matches in all competitions, including a 1-0 home win over League Two side Fleetwood Town in the third round
  • Sunderland were in the fifth round for the first time since 2014/15, when they lost 2-0 to Bradford City
  • Both of Sunderland’s goals in the FA Cup this season had been scored via set pieces (a throw-in and a penalty) – they were the only side in the fifth round yet to score from open play in this season’s competition
  • They won the competition in 1937 and 1973 and reached the final in 1913 and 1992

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