Maria Farrugia was one of Sunderland Ladies’ protagonists as she scored a wonder goal to help the Black Cats defeat rivals Middlesbrough in their third-tier fixture, on Thursday.
The Tees-Wear derby was hosted at Sunderland’s main stadium, the Stadium of Light, where the men’s side play their League Two fixtures. It was the second time that Farrugia graced the grass of this field having faced the other local rivals, Newcastle, last season.
Sunderland were looking for their first points of the season having lost to Burnley and Hull in their opening two league fixtures.
The Black Cats opened the score inside 14 minutes before Boro levelled terms midway into the first half. Nonetheless, two goals Sunderland enabled them to open a two-goal lead which helped them seal their first win of the season.
This Sunday, Sunderland will face Huddersfield Town away from home in their fourth league tie.
