Everton U21 vs. Sunderland U21: Live Blog, Instant Reaction and Analysis

In an exciting clash, Everton beat Sunderland 3-2 at Goodison Park in the U21 Premier League to overtake the Black Cats in the table. 

The Toffees lead the game twice and each time the Black Cats pegged them back. The matched looked to be heading towards stalemate when Conor McAleny netted the winner with two minutes of normal time remaining.

Arouna Kone, featuring for the reserves as part of his year-long rehabilitation from a knee ligament injury, put the Toffees ahead on the half-hour mark.

Sunderland had the better of the chances in the first half and forced a number of good saves from Blues keeper Joel Robles.

But it wasn't until Liam Agnew's deflected shot just before the hour mark looped fortuitously over Robles that Sunderland grabbed the goal their first-half display deserved.

Costa Rican midfielder Bryan Oviedo, returning from breaking his leg in January, volleyed the Blues in front with a classy finish soon after but Sunderland immediately struck back through Craig Lawson's easy tap-in.

With the clock running down, Conor McAleny coolly finished the impressive Gethin Jones' inch-perfect cross to end the Black Cats' three-match unbeaten run.

Sunderland welcome Villareal to the Stadium of Light on December 10, and will hope that the highly-influential Duncan Watmore is fit to face the Spanish side.

Everton's next game is a trip to Huddersfield on December 16, but the likes of Oviedo, Kone and Jones could well find themselves in contention for the Toffees' first team Europa League clash with Krasnodar on December 11.

Full time: Everton U21 3-2 Sunderland U21

Kone 30', Oviedo 65', McAleny 88'

Agnew 57', Lawson 67'