Sunderland internationals round-up: World Cup heartbreak for duo as Ellborg moves a step closer | OneFootball

Heartbreak for Sunderland’s Trai Hume and Dan Ballard as Northern Ireland lost 2-0 to Italy in their World Cup play-off semi-final in Bergamo. Hume captained, Ballard was injured.

Sunderland Echo reports a mixed night for the club’s internationals. Northern Ireland reached the play-offs by topping UEFA Nations League League C Group 3 with 11 points, ahead of Bulgaria, Belarus and Luxembourg, to earn the one-off tie. Italy had finished second to Norway after 3-0 and 4-1 defeats.

Hume, playing on the right of a back three, posted a team-high 7.3 FotMob rating. He made two tackles, four clearances including one off the line, two interceptions and a block, plus four recoveries. He won four of five ground duels and two of three aerials, completed two of three dribbles, delivered two crosses and passed at 82%.

It was not enough. Second-half goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean ended Northern Ireland’s hopes of reaching the FIFA World Cup in North America this summer.

Goalkeeper Melker Ellborg enjoyed better fortunes with Sweden. Signed from Malmo in January to back up Robin Roefs, the 22-year-old has already played four times for Sunderland due to Roefs’ injury.

Ellborg was an unused substitute as Sweden beat Ukraine 3-1 in qualifying. Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres made it 3-0 by the 73rd minute, before Matviy Ponomarenko’s late consolation. Sweden face Poland in Solna on Tuesday, with the winner advancing.

Elsewhere, Noah Sadiki featured as DR Congo beat Bermuda in a friendly in Mexico on Wednesday. Chris Rigg played the final 20 minutes as England lost 2-0 to Serbia in an U19 UEFA European Championship qualifier, while Milan Aleksic started as Serbia U21s drew 2-2 with Kyrgyzstan U23s on Thursday.

Source: Sunderland Echo