Play-Off Final Classic Match - Charlton Athletic 4-4 Sunderland

Play-Off Final Classic Match - Charlton Athletic 4-4 Sunderland, Season 1997/98 Division One
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[@duncancollins6722]

Can't believe this was 20 years ago! 7 years ago today my dad passed away. I was at this game with him and my late brother in law! What a day we had :)

[@themanftheworld8439]

The time flies mate.I was there too.We had an exciting team then under Reidy and got promoted next season with 105 points.Still a heartbreaking day for all SAFC supporters though.

[@dancasey700]

jesus, all of Mendonca's goals are great touches, great finishes - game of his life!

[@TheIkaraCult]

Remember stopping in the pub with my dad to watch this when i was 12 years old, neither of us fans of either club but just enjoying the spectacle. Not just the best playoff final match but one of my favourites ever

[@millwalljoey8350]

Best play off final of all time

[@westsideisdabest7825]

Super Clive Mendonca, what a class act.

[@adm2002]

Did you know that Clive Mendonca today works at the Nissan car manufacturing plant in Sunderland?

[@WildMike1234]

Remains to this day the best football match I've ever seen. Thrilling stuff.

[@o2bjedi]

I was there for this (albeit as a fan of another London club) with my brother. I'll never forget how he could not watch the penaties and I watched them for him! I can remember telling him "you've won bro, you've won". I'll never forget the look on his face. Amazing game. Amazing day.

[@martinreynolds1]

As the media reported at the time: "This was the finest game of football ever played on The Wembley turf!"

[@ianmcgregorhart9354]

That Sunderland's Team had Character and some very good players. The Lads won the old League One (The Championship); as it is now known the following season with over 100 points, then finished 7th two years running in Premier League & had a 4 year run in the top flight before losing form and momentum. Quinn & Phillips were a class act up front. This however was Charlton's day. Let's see what happens in League One Final on Sunday.

[@Joe-jo1ni]

It’ll never get any better for Sunderland than it did with Quinn and Phillips up top.

[@pavedoh]

Summerbee's penalty. The whack it as hard as you can approach is always the most satisfying, when it goes in.

[@karatebuff]

Clive Mendonca's hat trick goal was sheer World Class!!

[@TheIkaraCult]

It's amazing that Sunderland had Kevin Phillips when they were in Division one, one of the best English strikers of his era, and it was a pretty strong era.

[@stephenwilliams8128]

One of the best? Hahaha He was decent but knowhere near one of the best Shearer, Fowler, Owen, Cole, Wright, Ferdinand, Le Tissier & Sherinhgham all way better!

[@brandonwilson2732]

Stephen Williams , Phillips was the Premier League top scorer in the 1999-2000 season with 30 goals for Sunderland, a tally which won him the European Golden Shoe. He remains the only Englishman to win the trophy.

[@taffymackem2596]

@@brandonwilson2732 well said son

[@JonasRodgers]

@@brandonwilson2732 you claim he was better than any of the strikers listed above?

[@rickybobbylarge1059]

@@JonasRodgers it looks like he does

[@GoWithDannyMo]

Some cracking penalties there

[@thenecessaryevil1030]

Probably one of the best games I've had the privilege to watch..... Both teams were absolutely brilliant..... Just a shame there had to be a loser

[@elvinimali706]

Some incredible goals here - goals worthy of winning a world cup final. Mendonca's finishes were brilliant.

[@kerrysgold1]

Took a sickie from school to watch this when I was about 16. What a game, I still remember watching it vividly, even though it was 20 years ago. Can't believe it's been that long..I must be getting old:(

[@AdamSmith-xh2re]

Took a day off school on a bank holiday Monday?

[@kerrysgold1]

@@AdamSmith-xh2re Wasn't a bank holiday here in Ireland.

[@smudger746]

As a Sunderland supporter I still can’t watch this game all the way through. So much pain but what an absolute belter of a match

[@clingfilmlover]

Possibly the best play-off final ever

[@steveroberts9453]

21 years later they meet again in this year Div.One Final. Same again lads.

[@connorwilson4357]

Mendoca for being a mackem turned into superman against us this day. Heartbreaking haha but what a game!

[@ciaranmckenna1586]

Greatest match ever

[@Gizo02]

An amazing game. In hindsight losing this match was a very good thing for Sunderland, because their promotion match the next season with 105 points must have been amazing for everyone connected with the club.

[@xanaduflipper]

Same again next Sunday would be just fine! Come on you Reds ❤️

[@martinwitney4869]

I was there!

[@wokkehopjesokken1218]

When people still took normal penalties ;)

[@Beginstheman]

You should have included Rob Hawthorne and Alan Brazil's legendary commentary work on the day.

[@adm2002]

I have to say I am fine with the commentary of 'Football Poet' Peter Drury, who joined ITV earlier that year (1998).

[@pompeyXII]

21 years later, Sunderland lose on penalties again...

[@millwalljoey8350]

Repeat of this next weekend please chaps!

[@nickmullerITFC78]

That would be nice

[@DJRoyston18]

Millwall Joey It’s our turn this time ;)

[@ld4v631]

DJRoyston18 this comment hasn’t aged well 😂😂

[@owensy54321]

We gonna ignore that every single peno except the last was a stonker. Great game all round.

[@davidnesbit45]

Sunderland's keeper for that third Charlton goal...oh dear!

[@sanjognepal2998]

Those flawless run and penalties, hard to see.today

[@paddyanglais91]

Great times. Before rampant commercialism of the game ruined it.

[@fishkettle586]

Replay this weekend!

[@horseracingstuff]

I still remember watching this in a pub in Newcastle!

[@alldbolt]

Here we go again lads!

[@karengray662]

Was heavily pregnant at the time. Decided to paint ‘nursery’ while listening to the game. I was b****y exhausted by the end. All that & then we lost 😞 Made up for it the next season though, one of the best ever

[@bravtacaptain780]

Commentator sounds like Peter Drury

[@AngelRicalde17]

Its him. A very young version of him!

[@adm2002]

@@AngelRicalde17 He was 30. He is going to be 54 next month.

[@stevegoody3744]

Sunderland fan, but a great game.

[@fallfans]

Proper footer that

[@brainsofsport576]

ChArlton are the best

[@martinreynolds1]

Were!

[@themanftheworld8439]

Not

[@wideload9295]

Lionel Perez was the biggest waste of time Sunderland ever had, if that was any other keeper Sunderland would have gone through, but it was a fantastic game

[@martinreynolds1]

It was even stevens as Illich wasn't so great either. Both teams were brilliant but the best team won on the day.

[@themanftheworld8439]

They weren't the best.

[@AH-be6bu]

Rematch!!

[@johnboy9851]

ok, that was 5:17 of self harm

[@Gollumfili]

Softest peno you will ever see haha

[@littlefish1167]

Got to love the Charlton goalkeeper let in four goals didn't get anywhere near any penalty except the wrost penalty ever and he thinks he won the match for Charlton

[@rycohen9484]

It’s not like any of the goals were his fault

[@Keezadog1]

The days sunderland where in championship and nufc were battling for the pl title

[@Keezadog1]

@Shane Lee bro took you long enough but yeah we may have won nowt but we are proud of our history champions league battling for prem and fa cup finals but a guess i can relate on what your saying

[@themanftheworld8439]

@Shane Lee SAFC HAVE WON 6 LEAGUE TITLES.Football started before 1992.

[@Rowdy-Cowboy]

Perez......what a clown.....he was the reason why Sunderland lost. Particularly the header by Rufus

[@martinreynolds1]

You can't blame him he was no worse than Sasa illich.....It was a close call but the best team on the day took it.

[@tomshea8382]

You could fit three players in one of those Sunderland shirts.