Port Vale stun Sunderland to reach first FA Cup quarter-final since 1954
Waine, a New Zealand international, rose highest from a 28th-minute corner to send a looping header past goalkeeper Melker Ellborg. It was the only shot on target Port Vale managed in the entire match, and it was enough.
One header, 72 years of waiting
The goal came after a bizarre sequence. Sunderland defender Luke O'Nien played a misplaced backpass that forced Ellborg to head the ball over his own crossbar. From the resulting corner, Port Vale kept the ball alive and Waine, completely unmarked, headed home. It was his second FA Cup winner in five days, after he also scored the extra-time goal that knocked out Bristol City in the fourth round.
57 places apart in the pyramid
Port Vale sat bottom of League One going into the tie, 57 places below Sunderland in the English football pyramid. Manager Jon Brady, appointed in January, admitted he was in shock afterwards.
"I'm in a bit of a shock at that result today," Brady told TNT Sports. "Not that I didn't believe we could do it, but you need a lot of things going your way. Things went our way today and I'm just pleased for everyone at the football club."
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris gave Port Vale full credit. "Congratulations to our opponent, they played with intensity and patience," he said. "We were not at the level. It's not about the pitch. If you don't show enough you get punished and that's what happened today."
Sunderland's missed opportunity
Sunderland had most of the ball and created chances but could not find a way through. Their FA Cup exit leaves the Premier League as their sole focus for the remainder of the season. For Port Vale, the reward is a place in the last eight, their first since their famous 1953-54 run that took them all the way to the semi-finals.
