Monday 22 August 2016 09:41, UK
David Moyes' first home game in charge of Sunderland ended in defeat as Cristhian Stuani's brace handed Middlesbrough a 2-1 victory in the Wear-Tees derby.
In the 143rd meeting between the two North-East sides, Stuani's unstoppable long-range drive broke the deadlock at the Stadium of Light on 13 minutes.
The Uruguay international doubled the visitors' advantage on the stroke of half-time, rounding off a fine team move, as Sunderland left the field to a chorus of boos from home supporters.
Patrick van Aanholt reduced the arrears on 71 minutes but, despite an improved second-half display, Boro held on for their first Premier League win of the season, while Sunderland remain winless from their first two games.
Moyes handed summer signings Adnan Januzaj, Paddy McNair and Papy Djilododji their home debuts, while Aitor Karanka also made three changes for the trip to Wearside, the most notable of which seeing goalkeeper Brad Guzan replace the injured Victor Valdes.
Keen to make an impression, Manchester United loanee Januzaj was the focal point of the Sunderland attack as the hosts dominated the opening exchanges. But, against the run of play, Boro drew first blood.
Having carried the ball into the Sunderland half in one of the visitors' first ventures into opposition territory, Stuani stunned the hosts, picking out the top corner of the Vito Mannone's goal from 25 yards in spectacular fashion.
The goal knocked the stuffing out of Sunderland and they struggled to continue their promising start. They didn't fashion a chance until the half-hour mark, where Jermain Defoe's glancing heading, after Guzan had saved his low shot, was rightfully ruled out for offside.
Sunderland's injury woes continued on 35 minutes as captain John O'Shea was forced to withdraw, handing Boro the initiative to see out the game as the interval approached.
But they went one better as Alvaro Negredo, having been played in behind the makeshift home defence by Adam Forshaw, selflessly squared to Stuani, and he stroked home his second.
Jeremain Lens was brought on at half-time as Moyes looked to mastermind a comeback on his home debut, and his team responded with a stirring second-half rally.
Van Aanholt drew Guzan into a superb low save on the hour, and the pressure finally told as the Boro 'keeper spilled Duncan Watmore's shot into the path of Dutch full-back and he converted 19 minutes from time to set up a tense finale.
However, having clawed themselves back into contention, Sunderland failed to complete the turnaround as Boro regathered themselves to claim the first north-East bragging rights of the season following their return to the top flight.
Player ratings
Sunderland: Mannone (6), van Aanholt (6), Djilobodji (6), O'Shea (5), McNair (6), Love (6), Rodwell (6), Gooch (6), Watmore (7), Januzaj (6), Defoe (6).
Subs: Lens (7), Pienaar (5), Asoro (4).
Middlesbrough: Guzan (5), Nsue (7), Barragan (6), Gibson (6), Friend (6), Clayton (6), Forshaw (6), Stuani (9), Ramirez (7), Downing (6), Negredo (7).
Subs: Ayala (4), Adomah (5), Nugent (n/a).
Man of the Match: Christian Stuani.
