Controversial Penalty Seals Sunderland's FA Cup Progress at Oxford
In a rain-affected and fiercely contested FA Cup fourth-round clash, Sunderland secured a narrow 1-0 victory away to Oxford United, advancing to the fifth round for the first time since 2015. The match's decisive moment arrived in the first half through a highly contentious penalty converted by Habib Diarra, leaving home supporters incensed and sparking debate over the officiating.
A Stubborn Oxford Resistance
The Championship hosts proved to be stubborn and resilient opponents throughout the encounter, despite the challenging conditions at the Kassam Stadium. The pitch had been lashed by heavy rain earlier in the day, yet it held up sufficiently for the Premier League visitors to navigate a tricky tie. Oxford, facing the genuine prospect of relegation from the second tier after two seasons, set aside their league worries to mount a worthy fight, particularly in the closing stages as they pressed for an equaliser.
Sunderland, under the guidance of manager Regis Le Bris, were made to cling on desperately at times, with Oxford's late pressure testing their resolve. This fixture had been a league encounter last season, where Sunderland suffered a 2-0 defeat in April, part of a run of five consecutive losses that concluded their regular campaign. However, just four weeks later, they triumphed in the play-off final at Wembley to secure their return to the top flight, a resurgence they have maintained since.
The Decisive and Disputed Moment
The match's pivotal incident occurred after 33 minutes, when Dennis Cirkin went down in the penalty area under a challenge from Oxford's Christ Makosso. With no Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system available to review the decision, referee Thomas Kirk awarded a penalty after a single glance, a call that appeared generous to the Premier League side and convinced few among the home supporters.
Habib Diarra stepped up calmly to convert the spot-kick, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and handing Sunderland the lead. Oxford had not been awarded a penalty in their previous 85 games, dating back to their League One play-off semi-final against Peterborough, highlighting the rarity and frustration of the decision for the hosts.
Missed Opportunities and Tense Finale
Earlier in the match, Sunderland had looked the more likely to score, with Wilson Isidor missing a clear chance after 13 minutes when he failed to connect properly with Chemsdine Talbi's cross, then shoveling his subsequent effort into the side-netting. Oxford's first sight of goal came from Jamie Donley, whose drive was beaten away by goalkeeper Robin Roefs. Donley, on loan from Tottenham and making only his second appearance after an injury on his debut, had previously scored an audacious long-range lob against Manchester City in the fourth round a year ago.
As the tie entered its final half-hour, Oxford goalkeeper Matt Ingram produced a series of crucial saves to keep his team in contention. He denied Romaine Mundle's drive and acrobatically stopped a long-range blast from Talbi, while also thwarting Trai Hume's effort from outside the box. Oxford's best chance to equalise arrived in the 70th minute when the ball dropped to substitute Jamie McDonnell in the box, but he could only side-foot his shot over the bar, summing up their frustration.
At half-time, boos rang out from the home supporters directed at the officials, reflecting their belief that key decisions, particularly the penalty, had gone against their side. Despite a valiant effort, Oxford were unable to find a breakthrough, allowing Sunderland to scrape through to the next round amidst controversy and tense moments.
