Port Vale 1-0 Sunderland: John Brady’s side were destined to drop to League Two but still found a way to surprise their Premier League opponents on a memorable day at Vale Park.
Newcastle fan Ben Wayne was Port Vale’s FA Cup hero again against Sunderland (Image: Gareth Copley)
At the final whistle, the venue erupted into excitement. The home fans danced to Glad All Over as the PA announcer shouted over the tannoy, “Let’s hear it for the FA Cup quarter-finalists.”
Port Vale completed one of the great stories of this year’s FA Cup by defeating Sunderland in the Premier League against all odds. And of course there was a great fairy tale, as Ben Wayne, the hero who won the match, is a Newcastle fan thanks to Geordie’s mother Jack.
Wayne, 24, plays for New Zealand and is scheduled to play at the World Cup this summer, including a pre-tournament friendly against England in Tampa.
But it’s hard to imagine that whatever he does this summer will be better than this. Because this day will be remembered as one of the greatest in Port Vale’s 150 year history. What a great way to celebrate their anniversary.
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It’s the first time in 72 years that they’ve made it to the quarterfinals, and there’s no rhyme or reason why they should dream of beating the team 56 places above them.
It was Port Vale’s fifth win in the FA Cup, although they have won just six League One games this season and are 11 points clear of safety. It makes absolutely no sense, but that’s the beauty and magic of the FA Cup.
Yes, the pitch was shaking, a million miles from the Premier League bowling greens Sunderland are accustomed to. But Port Vale deserved to see the day. Because a ragtag bunch of free transfers, rejected players and veteran players gave absolutely everything. By the end, Jordan Gabriel, who cleared the man of the match off the line, could barely stand up due to cramps.
The 3,000 Sunderland fans on the trip must have been dreaming of qualifying for this season’s FA Cup. Because the FA Cup was one of the stories of the Premier League.
Port Vale players celebrate after knocking Sunderland out of the FA Cup (Image: Carl Recine)
But they were humble. The away side went empty immediately afterwards as Bale’s fans celebrated. Port Vale’s most famous fan, Robbie Williams, had his own bar at the stadium and his team definitely entertained everyone.
The goal hero is a New Zealander and the delighted manager, John Brady, is Australian, so this game should be talked about around the world.
Obviously, there wasn’t much to celebrate at Vale Park this season, but Brady and his brave pals gave fans a day they’ll never forget.
It was hard to imagine things would go this way early on, when Vale keeper Joe Gauci flicked the ball into the box and Sunderland’s Eliezer Mayenda had a golden chance to score. The ball hit the post and went wide.
But from that point on, Vale grew and gained confidence. Gauci became a hero after shocking a hopeless Sunderland side.
Sunderland’s Luke O’Nane completely misjudged his backpass and overhit it, almost sending the ball into their own net, but somehow keeper Melcar Elborg showed great quickness of thought and headed the ball over his own bar after 26 minutes.
Two minutes later Vale took the lead. Eason Archer’s cross caused chaos in the box, Sunderland were unable to clear and Dajoan Brown fired towards goal, then Wayne threw himself onto the ball and his looping header found the back of the net.
Sunderland took a golden chance to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals (Image: Gareth Copley)
Sunderland tried but could not save themselves. Khabib Diarra’s shot was cleared on the line by Gabriel, and Kemzudin Talbi’s follow-up was saved by Gauci.
The real drama occurred in the 61st minute when Bale substitute George Hall was scythed down by Elborg on the edge of the box.
This is the first time VAR has been used at Vale Park, but fans will be wondering what the point was. Referee Anthony Taylor only gave a yellow card, the video personnel did not intervene and it felt very wrong.
Vale bravely watched on as Gauci rejected Nilsson Angulo and Dan Ballard. But Vale fully deserved this. What a day.
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