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Eliezer Mayenda scored his first goals for Sunderland Sunderland thrashed Sheffield Wednesday at the Stadium of Light to move into the Championship's top two after the first two matches of the season. First-half goals from Dennis Cirkin, Eliezer Mayenda and Luke O'Nien put the Black Cats in control at the break. And Mayenda's second of the game effectively sealed the points for Sunderland within two minutes of the restart. The victory meant Sunderland moved behind early leaders Burnley on goal difference, with six points from six. Wednesday, meanwhile, followed up a dominant 4-0 opening-day win over Plymouth Argyle with a miserable defeat by the same scoreline. Wednesday dominated possession in the first half and hardly allowed Sunderland a kick inside the opening 10 minutes. But the home side then went ahead through a well-worked routine. Patrick Roberts' deep free-kick found Cirkin unmarked at the back post, with a screen of Sunderland players protecting his run from the Wednesday defence, and the left-back headed precisely past Owls goalkeeper James Beadle. The goal immediately changed the flow of the game and Sunderland doubled their lead five minutes later after a gift from the Owls. Josh Windass's flick deflected right into the path of striker Mayenda in acres of space outside the box. The 19-year-old had time to steady himself and finish confidently past Beadle for his first goal for the club. Luke O'Nien scored Sunderland's third goal against Sheffield Wednesday, his second of the season O'Nien made it 3-0 inside 24 minutes when he reacted quickest to prod home 17-year-old Chris Rigg's deflected shot. Wednesday's players called for the offside flag, but Windass was keeping the midfielder-turned-centre back onside. The away side's misery was compounded almost immediately, when Svante Ingelsson looked to have got one back - but the offside flag was raised this time, for an infringement against Djeidi Gassama in the build-up. Replays showed both decisions were correct. Beadle produced a brilliant save to keep out Rigg's deflected shot deep into first-half stoppage time and keep Wednesday in the game going into half-time. However, the contest was all-but over inside two minutes of the restart as Mayenda finished off a fine team move for his second goal of the game. Roberts' through-ball set Jack Clarke free down the left and the cross found Mayenda free in the middle to tap home past Beadle. Wednesday had plenty of the ball in the second half without testing Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. Michael Smith's blazed effort in stoppage time summed up the visitors' second-half performance as Sunderland recorded their second clean sheet from their opening two games. Regis Le Bris has begun his tenure at Sunderland with two wins and two clean sheets in the Championship Lorient were relegated from Ligue 1 last season under Regis Le Bris. But the 48-year-old Frenchman began his tenure in the north east with a 2-0 win away at Cardiff City and has followed it up with a commanding performance in his first home league game. His side looked in control of the match as soon as they took the lead early on. Sunderland's players pressed high and harried their opponents in midfield. It's now two games played, two won, six goals scored and zero conceded for his team in the league. Sunderland have been tipped to sign a new striker, but Mayenda has given the club and his head coach lots to ponder with his first goals in red and white. Wednesday secured their Championship status in this fixture in a 2-0 win on the final day of last season. Boss Danny Rohl did an amazing job to save the Owls from relegation, having taken over with the club seven points adrift from safety in October. He will now need to pick his players up for a big Yorkshire derby against Leeds United at Hillsborough on Friday. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 18th August 2024 at 13: 58 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Régis Le Bris Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Danny Röhl Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions This will be the sixth league meeting between Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats have won three to Sheffield Wednesday’s two, though the Owls did triumph 2-0 last season. Sheffield Wednesday have won two of their last three away league games against Sunderland (L1), having been winless in their previous nine (D3 L6). Sunderland could win their opening two games of a second tier campaign for the first time since 1974-75, under Bob Stokoe. Indeed, if they win here, they’ll have as many wins in 2024-25 as they managed across their final 15 games of the 2023-24 campaign (2). Josh Windass has scored in each of his last four Championship appearances, a run that includes a goal at the Stadium of Light on the final day of the 2023-24 campaign – the 30-year-old is Wednesday’s joint-top scorer in the league under manager Danny Röhl (7 – level with Iké Ugbo). The average age of Sunderland’s starting XI in their season opener against Cardiff was 23 years and 352 days; the youngest of any Championship side on MD1. Match ends, Sunderland 4, Sheffield Wednesday 0. Second Half ends, Sunderland 4, Sheffield Wednesday 0. Jack Clarke (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Svante Ingelsson (Sheffield Wednesday). Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Jobe Bellingham. Attempt saved. Romaine Mundle (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Jack Clarke. Attempt missed. Michael Smith (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Anthony Musaba. Foul by Romaine Mundle (Sunderland). Dominic Iorfa (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt blocked. Di'Shon Bernard (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Jobe Bellingham. Foul by Pol Valentín (Sheffield Wednesday). Jack Clarke (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Substitution, Sunderland. Romaine Mundle replaces Patrick Roberts. Liam Palmer (Sheffield Wednesday) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Liam Palmer (Sheffield Wednesday). Jack Clarke (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Dominic Iorfa (Sheffield Wednesday). Nazariy Rusyn (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing. Di'Shon Bernard (Sheffield Wednesday) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. © 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.