BENJI KIMPIOKA celebrated his return to Sunderland in style this afternoon as his two goals helped the Black Cats’ Under-23s claim a 4-0 victory over Newcastle United in a behind-closed-doors league meeting at the Magpies’ Little Benton training ground.
Kimpioka was making his first appearance since signing a new deal with the Black Cats last week, and his goals helped Elliott Dickman’s side secure a first league win since February 2019.
The Swedish striker looked set to leave Sunderland when he returned to his homeland after his previous contract on Wearside expired at the start of the summer, but a number of prospective moves fell through and he was persuaded to return to the North-East.
Phil Parkinson challenged him to knuckle down and fight for a place in the first team when he confirmed his return last Thursday, and today’s display can only have helped the 20-year-old’s cause.
Sunderland’s development side took the lead in the first half of today’s game, with Josh Hawkes, a summer signing from Hartlepool United, volleying in from a cross.
Kimpioka scored the first of his two goals at the start of the second half, with the forward breaking clear of the Newcastle defence before lofting a neat finish over goalkeeper Will Brown.
Sunderland skipper Cieran Dunne added a third goal midway through the second period, before Kimpioka completed the scoring as he slotted home from the penalty spot with ten minutes left.
Newcastle: Brown, Barrett, Midgley, Francillette, Gamblin, Carlyon (Thomson 87), Longelo, Rounsfell (Toure 38), Young, Flaherty, Stephenson (Ndiweni 67).
Sunderland: Patterson, Wombwell, Almond, Beaumont, Dunne, Wilding, Dyson, Hawkes, Wearne, Curry (Harris 83), Kimpioka.
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