Widely written off as dead men walking for months, Sunderland AFC dodged relegation from the English Premier League with a thumping 3-0 win over Everton on Wednesday – and DeAndre Yedlin played a major role in the Black Cats' great escape.
The Seattle Sounders Homegrown product and US national teamer struggled at the outset of his season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur. But he came on strong down the home stretch, earning a regular starting spot at right back as Sunderland made a late climb out of the EPL cellar to bank their 10th consecutive season of top-flight participation. The achievement is made even sweeter by the fact that SAFC's bitter rivals Newcastle United have been doomed to the drop.
Yedlin went the full 90 against Everton and nearly notched an assist with a well-weighted pass into space for former Toronto FC star Jermain Defoe in the final stages. That chance that was denied by Toffees goalkeeper Joel Robles, but Sunderland would score their third goal on the ensuing corner kick.
Yedlin has now made 21 league appearances for the Black Cats, 19 of them starts, and contributed to five clean sheets. His rise from reserve to everyday starter is all the more impressive given the doubts about him expressed by manager Sam Allardyce in February.
“DeAndre … has got very little experience at this level,” Allardyce told the Independent. “He has got a lot of qualities but without that experience, it’s a massive ask to perform at the consistent level that you need to at this stage of the season, under the pressure that we’re all under.”
Yedlin is expected to feature prominently for the USMNT in next month's Copa America Centenario, having been named to Jurgen Klinsmann's 40-man preliminary roster. The Yanks' final list will be announced later this month.
