On April 18, 1998, Sunderland achieved a critical 2-1 victory over Crewe Alexandra at the Stadium of Light, with an attendance of 40,441. Kevin Ball opened the scoring just four minutes into the match, followed by Lee Clark's goal in the 22nd minute, bringing his season tally to thirteen goals. Crewe's Phil Charnock pulled one back in the 30th minute, but Sunderland's defense, led by goalkeeper Lionel Perez, held firm. Perez made a vital save in the 85th minute, allowing Sunderland to reclaim their position in the automatic promotion spots. This win was crucial as Sunderland aimed to secure promotion from Nationwide Division One, with only three games remaining in the season. Despite this victory, Sunderland ultimately entered the playoffs, where they suffered a defeat at Wembley against Charlton Athletic. However, the following season saw Sunderland flourish, finishing with 105 points and achieving notable success in the Premier League.