Sunderland Under-21s 1 Newcastle United Under-21s 1 | OneFootball

Following a goalless first-half at the Academy of Light, the young Magpies fell behind after the restart following Tom Lavery's close-range header.

United's second-string found themselves level in swift fashion courtesy of Munda's strike, with the Cowgate-born midfielder winning possession on the edge of the penalty area before calmly slotting home as the spoils were shared in the Tyne-Wear derby.

Five changes were made from Tuesday's Premier League International Cup defeat against Benfica as Mason Miley, brother of Lewis, was handed his full debut at under-21 level while Sean Neave, Seung-soo Park, Munda and Scott Bailey were also named in the starting 11.

The visitors made a positive start in the opening minute as Munda regained possession in the final third before picking out Neave. The Winlaton-born took aim from a tight angle inside the box but saw his attempt fly across the face of goal.

Neave, who has scored nine goals at under-21 level so far this season, created another goalscoring opportunity as Munda produced impressive pressing to regain the ball before playing an inviting pass into the 18-year-old's path but his low drive was turned around the post by the left foot of Sunderland goalkeeper Ben Metcalf.

Munda was unfortunate not to score in the first-half as the teenage midfielder latched onto a loose ball in the box, following Leo Shahar's neat pass in behind the Sunderland defence, but blazed his effort wide of the target on the penalty spot.

With the half-time whistle nearing, Neave continued to cause a threat to the Black Cats backline but the versatile forward, named on the bench for the Magpies' Carabao Cup final victory against Liverpool, saw a powerful effort pushed over the bar by Metcalf.

Shahar, a representative of England at under-19 level, went close to netting from the resulting corner as the Magpies skipper's drive from an acute angle was beaten away by Metcalf.

Despite a bright first-half, Newcastle's youngsters trailed in the 56th minute through Lavery as Harrison Jones' in-swinging corner was nodded beyond Adam Harrison at the back post.

Seven minutes later, our seven-game goal drought ended as Munda equalised. The central midfielder, on target in last season's 1-1 draw against Sunderland, was rewarded for his positive work off the ball, once again pouncing on a loose ball on the edge of the Black Cats' box before cooly slotting a low effort into the net.

Harrison prevented Sunderland from regaining their one-goal advantage shortly after equalising as Bayley Hester completed a dangerous run towards goal but his strike from the edge of the box was pushed away by the alert shot-stopper.

Our Under-21s are back in Premier League 2 action when we host Wolverhampton Wanderers at Whitley Park on Friday, 30th January (kick-off 7pm GMT).

Newcastle United Under-21s: Adam Harrison, Leo Shahar (c) (Ciaran Thompson 82), Dylan Charlton, Charlie McArthur, Miodrag Pivaš, Mason Miley (Rory Finneran 82), Matheos Ferreira, Scott Bailey, Sean Neave (Kyle Fitzgerald 61), Anthony Munda, Seung-soo Park (Alfie Harrison 74).

Subs not used: James Taylor.