Soccer-Ballard's extra-time header sends Sunderland into Championship playoff final

FILE PHOTO: Championship - Play-Off - Semi Final - Second Leg - Sunderland v Coventry City - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Britain - May 13, 2025 Sunderland's Jobe Bellingham and Daniel Ballard celebrate with teammates after the match Action Images/Lee Smith/File Photo

SUNDERLAND, England (Reuters) - Sunderland will face Sheffield United in the Championship playoff final after Daniel Ballard's header in the final seconds of extra time snatched a 1-1 home draw against Coventry City on Tuesday to secure a 3-2 aggregate victory.

The hosts were closing in on a place in the May 24 final at Wembley after Friday's 2-1 first-leg win, but Coventry's Ephron Mason-Clark levelled the tie 15 minutes from time, beating his marker to score with a low shot.