Graeme Murty has praised Sunderland U21s’ quality in the 2-1 victory over Benfica’s B team insisting, “they should feel proud to have stood up to that challenge.”

The Black Cats were excellent in the final group stage game in the Premier League International Cup at the Stadium of Light. Ian Poveda and Milan Aleksic sealed victory with the goals and the Lads now await other results to determine their progression to the knockout stages.

“I thought we showed a consistent level of quality throughout the game,” lead coach Murty admitted. “The group has worked hard this week and they merited the result. When you look at the stature and the size of their club, I think it’s a top-10 club in the world, in terms of size, in terms of members, in terms of revenue, and the production line they’ve had through their academy. I think our players can be really proud to stand up to that challenge.”

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He added: “That was their B team and for our players to stand up against that was a really good experience for them. I just wish for the players’ sake we can get more people to come and watch. It would be really good for their overall growth. To win that will stand them in a really good stead.”

The competition has opened the eyes and minds of the players and Murty added: “It’s been fantastic, to meet coaches from other nations, to play against different styles, different quality of players, to see the way they embrace the game. Then we get to meet with their coaches and talk about why they set their team up in a certain way, what they have seen from us, what our trends are like. That is really impactful from a coaches’ point of view. For an academy as a whole we see much more from our players than we do in the domestic game. The players have loved it and embraced it.

“They’ve had a taste of it now. You look at the teams we’ve played against, for them to experience that, at this level, now it's a real visceral experience.

After 10 months on the sidelines, Jensen Seelt made his long-awaited return to action as Murty opted to rotate his squad for the visit of Benfica B. The visitors created the match’s first clear opening on 10 minutes, but Blondy remained alert to pull off two tremendous saves to deny Beni Souza and keep the score level.

A solo effort from Poveda gave Sunderland an early lead on 15 minutes. The winger confidently collected Jenson Jones’ inch-perfect pass before cutting inside and firing his shot low and hard past Pedro Souza. The hosts should have doubled their lead five minutes later when Poveda skipped past his man before cutting the ball back for the on-rushing unmarked Aleksic to fire wide. After the break Ahmed Abdullahi forced Pedro Souza into an early stop.

Benfica threatened to find a leveller but Aleksic doubled the host’s lead on 57 minutes with a superbly well-taken finish. Benfica pulled a goal back from the spot on 70 minutes but Sunderland held on for three points. The victory elevated Sunderland into second place within the group, but they will have to wait for the result of Blackburn Rovers vs Athletic Club Bilbao on February 5 to find out if they have qualified for the knockout stages.

Sunderland U21s: Blondy, Jen Jones, Seelt (Kindon 46), Bell, Bainbridge (Lavery 78), Middlemas, Aleksic, H.Jones (Jay Jones 90), Poveda (Walsh 46), Ogunsuyi, Abdullahi (Whittaker 63).

Subs not used: Chibueze, Geragusian.