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“65 Words, 1 Hero: Dan Ballard’s Emotional Message After Wembley-Sealing Goal Goes Viral
Ballard Reflects on Last-Gasp Winner as Sunderland Book Wembley Spot
Dan Ballard admitted he thought Sunderland’s chances were slipping away before his dramatic 120th-minute winner sealed a play-off semi-final victory over Coventry City at the Stadium of Light.
With the tie heading toward penalties, Ballard rose to head home the decisive goal, securing Sunderland a place at Wembley against Sheffield United.
Despite not being at their best for much of the match, Sunderland found a way through after Ephron Mason-Clark had earlier brought Coventry level on aggregate.
“This is what dreams are made of,” said Ballard. “The fans were unbelievable.
It felt like it just wasn’t going to be our night, but every single player wanted to give them something to celebrate. What a finish—it was pure drama.”
Speaking about his goal, Ballard admitted the moment was a bit chaotic: “Romaine got in the way and I jumped too early—I don’t even remember what happened after that. The celebration was just a blur. It’s an incredible feeling.”
