Charlton’s U23s were beaten 3-1 by Sunderland in Premier League Cup Group A on Monday evening.
The Addicks took an early lead through Wassim Aouachria’s early strike but Lee Connelly’s second-half hat-trick turned the game around for Sunderland.
Charlton had to play the final half an hour with 10 men – after Jo Cummings was dismissed for bringing down Connelly inside the box for a penalty – and the result leaves the Addicks on one point from their first three group matches.
Charlton took the lead on six minutes. Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu aimed a low strike at goal that goalkeeper Anthony Patterson could only parry and Aouachria was first to the loose ball to bury the rebound.
Williams Kokolo fired over the bar from a tight angle, as the Black Cats looked for a quick equaliser on 11 minutes, and four minutes before the break Sarpong-Wiredu almost doubled the Addicks’ advantage but Patterson made a good save from his powerful volley.
Sunderland levelled 10 minutes into the second half. Ashley Maynard-Brewer couldn’t hold a powerful Jake Hackett shot and Connelly powered home the loose ball from six yards.
Five minutes later, Connelly grabbed his second – which again came from a rebound – and on 62 minutes he was brought down by Cummings for a penalty.
Cummings was given his marching orders by referee Sam Purkiss and Connelly converted the spot-kick from 12 yards to complete a quick-fire hat-trick and seal the game for his team.
Charlton U23s: Maynard-Brewer, Yao, Cummings, French, Trialist (Maloney 77), Dempsey, Vennings, Sarpong-Wiredu, Doughty (Carey 77), Aouachria, Ocran.
Subs (not used): Trialist, Barton, Gody.
Goal: Aouachria 6
