KV Mechelen 2 Sunderland 2
July 26th 2000

Report from safc.com

NIALL Quinn made a spectacular return to action as boss Peter Reid rung the changes in Sunderland's game with KV Mechelen.

Quinn scored two first-half goals, the second a 40-yard lob, the type that has become synonymous with David Beckham after his goal at Wimbledon three years ago, in his first pre-season outing.

But the Black Cats could only hold onto their lead for 15 minutes as the Belgians fought back to earn a draw.

Quinn, playing up front with Don Hutchison - the only survivor from Reid's line up at Le Havre three days earlier - put Sunderland in front in the 15th minute when he sent a looping header over keeper Ivan Willcockx.

Neil Wainwright, one of Sunderland's better players on the night, made sure Quinn's effort went in but it looked to have already crossed the line. Quinn's first strike was typical of the big striker but his second surprised just about everyone in the ground - including Willcockx.

The Republic of Ireland man intercepted a pass just inside the Mechelen half before sending a 40-yard shot over the goalkeeper's head and into the net. Sunderland, who included trialist Pierre N'Janko, a centre-back from Strasbourg, should have had the game wrapped up by the time Quinn put them two ahead.

New boy Hutchison could have had a hat-trick in the opening 20 minutes and Jody Craddock knocked a chance over the bar from close range. The game was played at the Kampenhout Stadium 15 miles from Mechelen, who use Kampenhout as a feeder club, at a ground similar to New Ferens Park.

The home side pulled a goal back in the 27th minute and it was another spectacular effort. Jose Del Solar found space just inside the area before blasting a shot in off the post and bar.

Mechelen's second came seven minutes later when Steven Ribus wrong-footed debutant Jurgen Macho with a deflected right-foot effort. The performance of Macho was a bonus for Reid, whose side looked a lot sharper than in their pre-season opener against Havre AC.

Sunderland could have snatched a win at the end when substitute Danny Dichio twice went close after replacing Quinn.

Sunderland: Macho, Maley, McCartney, Peeters (sub 46, Roy), Craddock, N'Janka, Wainwright, Lumsdon, Quinn (sub 76, Dichio), Hutchison, Fredgaard.

KV Mechelen: Willockx, Meeusen, Bal, De Buschere, Smidts, Guadalupe, Del Solar, Van Hout, Dierickx, Ribus, Camus.