The Black Cats defender was sent off in the League One semi-final first leg against Portsmouth at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland have delivered some good news ahead of their playoff semi-final second leg against Portsmouth on Thursday in the shape of Alim Ozturk being available after his red card from Saturday’s game was rescinded. The Turkish defender was sent off by referee Andy Woolmer on 67 minutes after appearing to bring down Portsmouth’s Gareth Evans on the edge of the area in the first leg, marking the eighth time Sunderland have been reduced to 10 men this season (Sunderland Echo). However, following a successful appeal to the Football Association, Ozturk’s suspension has been withdrawn with immediate effect after a claim of wrongful dismissal was upheld by an independent regulatory commission. Scott Brown and an emotional Celtic farewell The 26-year-old will thus be available for Thursday’s game at Fratton Park, with Sunderland boasting a 1-0 first-leg lead after Chris Maguire scored the game’s only goal on 62 minutes, a superb volley after connecting with Matt Clarke’s attempted headed clearance. Here is how some of the Stadium of Light faithful reacted to the news after Sunderland’s Twitter feed made the announcement: This content could not be loaded So @EFL when are you going to start disciplining referees that make horrendous descions. Thats 3 reds overturned this season by #safc that could very well have affected promotion and put the future of the club in trouble — Alex (@Alisafc2017) 13 May 2019 This content could not be loaded Is that 4 or 5 red cards overturned now for us, standard of refereeing is awful — Luke. (@LWBrown19) 13 May 2019 This content could not be loaded Does this not say summit about the level and quality of refereeing in this league. We’ve had loads of reds overturned this season — TWANGMACKEM™️ (@twangmackem) 13 May 2019 This content could not be loaded They should make Pompey play the last 30 minutes with 10 men… only fair now. — Simon Hetherington (@SimonJHeth) 13 May 2019 This content could not be loaded Refereeing had been a joke all season.. it was never a red. — mDØN‍ (@mdon874) 13 May 2019 This content could not be loaded He’s taken the ball wide of goal, he’s made contact with the ball but he’s also taken the man because he’s a fraction late – and that’s it! There are 2 covering tacklers coming round, so never an obvious goal scoring opportunity. Worst red I think I’ve seen for years man! Joke. — Ben Skullduggery (@Benjiboo_42) 13 May 2019 This content could not be loaded Good news Although I’ve seen milk turn quicker than Ozturk — Jonny (@Jonny_Langley86) 13 May 2019 This content could not be loaded 3rd red over turned this season, ridiculous that this could cost us — Brett Redmayne (@safcbrett) 13 May 2019 This content could not be loaded Another wrong decision that could have cost us. How many in this league now? — alex nicholson (@alexwnicholson) 13 May 2019 Three of the red card decisions given against Sunderland have now been rescinded after the Black Cats also submitted successful appeals regarding Max Power’s red card at Walsall and Chris Maguire’s dismissal against Luton (Sunderland Echo). The winners of Saturday’s tie will go on to face either Charlton Athletic or Doncaster Rovers at Wembley Stadium on 26 May for a place in the Championship. In other news, 'Most important': Gareth Bale makes comment about Arsenal after PL's final day<doc-sep>Alim Ozturk’s red card has been successfully overturned by the FA, meaning the big Turkish defender is available to play on Thursday for the second leg of the play-offs at Fratton Park. Ozturk was dubiously removed from action by referee Andy Woolmer during the second half of Saturday’s win over Portsmouth, deeming that the former Hearts captain had fouled Gareth Evans as both men chased the ball down near the edge of Sunderland’s box. But, replays clearly showed that Ozturk had not only won the ball but that play was also running out towards the corner and not at Jon McLaughlin - meaning that, under current rules, Ozturk had not committed an offence worthy of a dismissal. Thankfully Sunderland hung on, but only just - Portsmouth hit the bar from the free kick that was awarded as a result of Ozturk’s alleged ‘foul’.<doc-sep>It is advantage Sunderland in their play-off semi-final with Portsmouth. After an opening 45 with a limited number of chances, Chris Maguire scored the only goal of the game in the 62nd minute, four minutes after replacing Lewis Morgan. His beautiful volley gave Sunderland a one-goal lead going into Thursday’s away leg at Fratton Park. Sunderland may have to play their fifth match of the season against Pompey without Alim Ozturk, unless his red card gets rescinded, after he was sent off in the 67th minute following a challenge on Gareth Evans. Jack Ross made a number of changes to the side that lost 2-1 against Southend United in the final game of the regular League One season. Aiden McGeady was meant to start the match but pulled up in training and was replaced by Lynden Gooch. Also, Luke O’Nien and Bryan Oviedo came back as wing-backs, while Lee Cattermole replaced Grant Leadbitter. Captain George Honeyman came in in the number ten role, while Morgan replaced Chris Maguire. First Half: A Lacklustre First Half Ends 0-0 The Black Cats started the match off slowly but eventually found their feet. Lee Cattermole almost gave Sunderland the lead in the first half when a cross from a corner from the left found him at the front post. He flicked the ball wide of the goal, much to the delight of the travelling Pompey fans. Charlie Wyke started the match up top by himself and was close to giving the Black Cats an early lead. Max Power’s delivery from the right found Wyke in the area, but his right footed shot was diverted over the bar. Neither Sunderland or Portsmouth were able to take the initiative, so at half time the scores were level. Second Half: Maguire Magic Seals First Leg Win Sunderland had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Andy Woolmer at the start of the second period when Oviedo whipped the ball into the penalty area and Flanagan controlled it magnificently. His shot was blocked by the back of Tom Naylor inside the penalty area, while the Sunderland fans thought it hit the arm of the Pompey man. Jack Ross decided to make his first change of the match when he took off Lewis Morgan and replaced him with the King, Chris Maguire. Craig MacGillivray made superb stops when both of these sides met two weeks ago and, yet again, he was on song. Gooch crossed the ball into the penalty area from the edge of the 18 yard box on the right wing. It found Honeyman at the front post and his header left MacGrillivray to pull off a magnificent stop using his chin. Chris Maguire scored the opening goal of the match when Oviedo’s cross was cleared by Matt Clarke, but only to Maguire, who was in acres of space inside the penalty area. He timed his volley to perfection and it was thundered into the top left corner of the Portsmouth net. Alim Ozturk saw red five minutes later when Oli Hawkins played the ball to Matt Clarke, who then fed it to Gareth Evans. He was in plenty of space and Ozturk sprinted across to cover, bringing Evans down but winning the ball in the process as shown by the replays just outside of the penalty area. The referee - Andy Woolmer - gave himself a few seconds to decide and he showed Ozturk a red card. For me, this was the incorrect decision as Evans was taking the ball away from goal, therefore it wasn’t a clear goal scoring opportunity and Ozturk won the ball. From the following free-kick, Evans’ set piece smashed off the top of the bar after taking a deflection off the head of Jimmy Dunne. Portsmouth had another chance when Evans’ corner was bundled around the six yard box and it fell to Omar Bogle. The ball was caught under his feet, but when he fired his shot towards goal it was blocked by Luke O’Nien. Chris Maguire then had an opportunity to double Sunderland’s advantage and their chances of reaching the League One play-off final. His shot from just under 25 yards out clipped the outside the left post - and it proved to be Sunderland’s final big chance of the game as it ended with them taking a one goal advantage into the second leg. On Thursday night, Sunderland know what they have to do to reach the League One play-off final: keep a clean sheet. It’s the club’s biggest match of the season, with the opportunity to move a step closer to claiming promotion the prize. The Black Cats know Portsmouth will come out all guns blazing with the home crowd behind them, so the Black Cats need character and drive from players who can deliver a promotion-winning performance.<doc-sep>
Sunderland will appeal Alim Ozturk's red card after they were forced to hold on for a priceless first-leg victory following the Turkish defender's controversial early exit. Ozturk was ordered off soon after substitute Chris Maguire's stunning 62nd minute winner for a clumsy sliding challenge on Portsmouth skipper Gareth Evans, but Black Cats boss Jack Ross insisted: 'We'll appeal it because we want him available and I don't think it was a clear and obvious goal scoring opportunity, I thought that it was an incorrect decision.' Second-half substitute Maguire broke the deadlock with virtually his first touch after pouncing on Matt Clarke's weak clearing header to volley home from the edge of the area as the Black Cats earned a first victory over their promotion rivals at the fourth time of asking this season. Chris Maguire celebrates after his volley put Sunderland ahead in the 62nd minute A jubilant Maguire is congratulated by his team-mates after he managed to find the net Maguire's impressive strike puts Sunderland in charge going into the second leg MATCH FACTS Sunderland (4-2-3-1): McLaughlin 7; O'Nien 7, Ozturk 5, Flanagan 6, Oviedo 6; Cattermole 6, Power 6; Gooch 7 (Dunne 70, 6), Honeyman 7, Morgan 5 (Maguire 58, 7); Wyke. Substitutes: Ruiter, Matthews, Hume, Grigg, Leadbitter. Portsmouth (4-2-3-1): MacGillivray 7; Thompson 7, Burgess 6, Clarke 7, Walkes 7; Naylor 7, Close 6; Lowe 7, Evans 7, Curtis 6 (Solomon-Otabor 69, 6); Hawkins 6 (Bogle 69, 6). Substitutes: Bass, Cannon, Morris, May, Dennis. Referee: Andy Woolmer 7 Advertisement Sunderland were reduced to ten men when Alim Ozturk received a red card in the second half Portsmouth's Ronan Curtis goes for the goal during the first leg of the play-off semi-final The hosts put their off-the-pitch worries aside in the wake of revelations that owner Stewart Donald looking to sell a large chunk of his 74 per cent controlling interest, in addition to a disappointing Stadium of Light turn out of 26,000 - almost 15,000 down on the when sides meet here just two weeks ago. Only a stunning save from Pompey keeper Craig MacGillivray prevented George Honeyman from heading the hosts into the lead shortly after the break, but Ozturk's early departure ended Sunderland's hopes of building on the slender advantage provided by Maguire. Portsmouth's Nathan Thompson competes for possession with Sunderland's Lewis Morgan Sunderland's Tom Flanagan attempts to win the ball from Portsmouth's Oliver Hawkins Tempers flared between both sets of players after the final whistle at the Stadium of Light 'I don't think the referee had any other choice, he was the last man and he brought him down,' Kenny Jackett, the Portsmouth manager insisted. Skipper Evans went closest to an equaliser when his 20-yard free-kick struck the bar, and Jackett added: 'It was always going to be close, and it sets it up nicely for Thursday night. 'We're a goal behind but we're more than capable of getting back into the tie. We'll be backed by a full house and we really hope to get the crowd behind us.'