The Valiants are through to the Emirates FA Cup Quarter-Finals for the first time since 1954 after seeing off Premier League side Sunderland!
After making a positive start to the game, Ben Waine headed his side into the lead following a ricochet in the penalty area.
Vale spent most of the second half trying to preserve their lead, but did come close to doubling their advantage on numerous occasions following near-perfect counter-attacks.
Jon Brady made three changes following Tuesday’s Fourth Round victory over Bristol City. Kyle John, Funso Ojo and Dajaune Brown came into the side for Tyler Magloire, Jordan Shipley and Martin Sherif.
The Valiants got the contest underway at Vale Park and created half a chance just two minutes in. An in-swinging corner from Ethon Archer was met by Conor Hall, but the defender's effort was saved by Melker Ellborg.
Moments later, the visitors had a chance of their own from a corner. Eliezer Mayenda connected with a corner from the left, which was brilliantly cleared by Kyle John on the line and then nodded behind by Ben Waine.
With twenty-five minutes on the clock, there was almost a calamitous mistake from Luke O’Nien. Sunderland’s captain played a dangerous back pass that looked destined to go over his own goalkeeper, but the retreating Ellborg did brilliantly to head the ball over his own bar.
The Valiants took the lead shortly after, and deservedly so! A short corner was eventually whipped in the box and after a bit of pinball, there was the man of the moment, Ben Waine, who headed an effort into the far corner, leaving the keeper with no chance!
With half-time approaching, the visitors were trying to flex their muscles and find that equaliser. Habib Diarra evaded a couple of Vale challenges before firing a dangerous cross across the face of goal, but thankfully for Vale, no Sunderland attacker made an attempt to score.
The Black Cats started the second half on the front foot and came close to levelling the scores. After a goal-line clearance from Jordan Gabriel, Chris Rigg let fly from close range, but the Englishman was once again denied by Joe Gauci in the Vale goal.
After withstanding some pressure from the visitors, Andre Gray played a delightful ball into the path of George Hall and with Vale’s number 33 bearing down on goal, he was completely taken out by Melker Ellborg. The referee brandished a yellow card to the keeper, and the resulting free kick came to nothing. There was a bit of history at Vale Park as VAR was used for the first time ever to check the yellow card offence.
Sunderland were pushing for an equaliser and had two opportunities in the space of seconds. Firstly, a cross to the back post was headed towards the top corner by Nilson Angula, however, he was denied by Gauci, and then Dan Ballard powered a header towards goal, but he was again denied by Gauci, with the Aussie doing everything to keep the ball out.
With ten minutes remaining at Vale Park, the Valiants almost doubled their lead. Following another lightning-quick break from Vale, George Hall was one vs one with the keeper again and got his shot away, but it was deflected behind for a corner after a retreating Sunderland defender got a toe to the ball.
Despite defending for the majority of the second half, it was Vale who continued to look more likely to score. Jordan Gabriel was doing all he could to protect the ball, but found himself on the edge of the box and laid the ball off for Andre Gray. The forward unleashed an effort from range, but it whistled wide of the post.
Following six minutes of additional time and an unbelievable performance, Anthony Taylor blew his whistle and the Valiants are Emirates FA Cup Quarter-Finalists for the first time in 72 years!
Team News:
Port Vale: Gauci, Hall, Gabriel, Brown (Gray 57’), Archer (Hall 57’), Walters, Ojo, Gordon (Campbell 80’), Waine (Ward 87’), John ©, Humphreys (Magloire 46’)
Unused subs: Amos, Headley, Shipley, Hernandez
Sunderland AFC: Ellborg, Ballard, Geertruida, Talbi (Isidor 67’), Angulo, Rigg (Xhaka 82’), Mayenda, O’Nien ©, Alderete, Diarra, Le Fee
Unused subs: Moore, Abdullahi, Aleksic, Jones, Jones, Whittaker, Geragusian
