Ananova:

Wimbledon's relegation to Division Two was confirmed despite a brave performance against Sunderland at the National Hockey Stadium.

Sunderland took the lead on the stroke of half-time as Matt Piper's corner was cleared straight to Julio Arca, who blasted the ball into the ground from the edge of the area only for Marcus Stewart to nod home from a tight angle.

The visitors, still harbouring faint hopes of automatic promotion, made five changes to the side that lost to Millwall in the FA Cup semi-finals.

But if Kevin Kyle had not been so wasteful in front of goal the Black Cats would have had the game wrapped up inside the first 45 minutes.

Kyle, so unhappy at being substituted against Millwall in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday, spurned four good chances to break the deadlock.

First the Sunderland striker headed Piper's near-post corner over and then side-footed a great opportunity wide after Stewart did well to hold up the ball.

The former Ipswich marksman then set up Kyle once more but Dons defender Harry Ntimban-Zeh made a superb goalline clearance to deny him.

Kyle had another golden opportunity to open the scoring moments later, but his toe-poked effort was once again cleared off the line.

The Dons were enjoying a rare spell of pressure towards the end of the half after forcing three corners, but Stewart struck just before the break.

Sunderland looked on course to extend their lead after the break as Kyle and Stewart went close, but the Dons levelled against the run of play midway through the second half.

Jermaine Darlington supplied the cross which substitute Malvin Kamara met with a clinical volley past the helpless Mart Poom.

Seconds later the visitors should have gone ahead when Arca sent in a cross only for Carl Robinson's header to crash against the crossbar.

Wade Small blew the chance to put Wimbledon in front when he fired over the bar, but Sunderland clinched the points in the 73rd minute.

Arca played the ball in to George McCartney, who cut the ball back to substitute Darren Byfield and the former Rotherham marksman stroked the ball home with his second touch of the game.

	Related stories: HT: Wimbledon 0 Sunderland 1 20:50 Tuesday 6th April 2004 Preview: Wimbledon v Sunderland 16:45 Monday 5th April 2004 More related stories

	Check for more on: Sunderland Wimbledon English First Division Soccer

Reckon you know what the scores will be? Where the big sporting shocks will come? Have a flutter at Blue Square where first-time Ananova users get a free £10 bet!