Paddy McNair scored on his comeback from injury as Sunderland made a winning start to their Premier League International Cup campaign with a 2-0 defeat of Hertha Berlin at the Stadium of Light.
McNair, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last November, put the Black Cats ahead in the 37th minute with a looping header after Duncan Watmore's shot had been saved by goalkeeper Leon Bruggemeier.
Sunderland's experienced line-up also included Donald Love, Brendan Galloway and Jack Rodwell but the visitors had the better of the second half.
But the Black Cats made the match safe in the last minute when Tom Beadling converted a penalty following a foul on Jack Diamond.
It is Hertha's second successive Group B defeat after they lost 3-0 at Leicester City last month, while Sunderland's next group fixture is against Legia Warsaw at the Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground on 15 November.
The Black Cats' next Premier League 2 match is on Monday when they face Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.
See: Sunderland report
📺Dickman pleased with commitment shown
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) October 10, 2017
➡️https://t.co/sfdWGqC8e2 pic.twitter.com/CYMBJRIyz8
