5 Talking Points from Sunderland's penalty shootout win over Manchester United

Johnson flatters to deceive

Before the game, there were some Sunderland fans claiming that Adam Johnson deserved an England call up on the back of his last two games, which has seen him score four goals- including a hat-trick in the 4-1 win at Fulham. Instead of taking the game by the scruff of the neck, the England winger flattered to deceive in his big opportunity in the semifinal.

Johnson displayed all of the reasons why he was let go by Manchester City and failed to catch the eye. The 26-year-old was wasteful with his free kicks, disappointing with his delivery from crosses and offered precious little in the form of attacking threat. His disappointing evening was made worse, when his penalty was tamely struck and was easily palmed over by David de Gea.

A mauling in the cards in the final?

Sunderland’s victory in the semifinals means that they will meet Manchester City in the final of the Capital One Cup. The good news is that Sunderland are one game away from winning the season’s first silverware. But the bad news is that they come up against Manchester City, a side, who have already scored over 100 goals this season and are looking for an unprecedented quadruple this season.

Sunderland know fully well that they aren’t in the same caliber as their opponents and a difficult task awaits them in the final. And whilst on paper, the likes of Sergio Agüero, Yaya Touré, David Silva and co. should prove too much for the Black Cats, as Wigan showed last season, anything is possible in football. Sunderland fans will be hoping to make the impossible possible in the final.