Source: Northern_Echo
Benfica 2 Sunderland 0
Benfica 2 Sunderland 0[LNB] STEVE BRUCE will this morning be assessing the fitness of striker Kenwyne Jones who became the latest player to join Sunderland's walking wounded.[LNB] Last night's encounter with Benfica may have been billed as a pre-season friendly contesting the Albufeira Cup but no one seemed to have told the Portuguese side who gave the Wearsiders a very tough work out with lone striker Jones in particular the target of some robust challenges.[LNB] The Trinidad and Tobago international was forced off after only 34 minutes as he sustained what appeared to be a dead leg and Martyn Waghorn came on as his replacement.[LNB] Benfica had earlier broken the deadlock when a teasing left wing cross from Fabio Coentrao was met by Oscar Cardozo who rose above Anton Ferdinand to head home past Simon Mignolet from eight yards.[LNB] The Belgian Under-21 goalkeeper enjoyed an otherwise impressive evening and his smart second half save denied Alan Kardec before a late Carlos Martins' strike doubled Benfica's lead.[LNB] Lee Cattermole enjoyed a useful second half run out but Bruce will now be concerned that Jones can recover in time for the Premier League kickoff on August 14.[LNB] In the meantime, Sunderland hope to replace Ipswich bound goalkeeper Marton Fulop with England international David James.[LNB] Fulop is on the verge of agreeing a £1.5m switch to link up with Roy Keane's side and Bruce remains optimistic he can recruit the former Portsmouth keeper to bolster his goalkeeping ranks.[LNB] Bruce said: David James has talked to Celtic, which we always knew he was going to do. I don't think he is trying to play one off against the other, he's just keeping his options open at the moment.[LNB] We're still hopeful something will happen.[LNB] Marton Fulop is on the edge of joining Ipswich. They are talking personal terms as I understand it, so something should be finalised shortly as long as those talks go well, he said.[LNB] Out of favour striker David Healy was on target as a Sunderland XI ran out 3-1 winners against Gateshead at the Academy of Light yesterday.[LNB] The Tynesiders replied to goals from Jordan Cook and Healy with a Jonny Allan penalty before Oumare Tounkara made the game safe for the Black Cats.[LNB]
