Chris Maguire, who had been on the pitch for four minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute, volleyed Matt Clarke's attempted clearance into the Portsmouth net from 15 yards (14 m) to give Sunderland the lead.

[9] During the 2018–19 regular league season, Sunderland had beaten Charlton 2–1 in the opening match at the Stadium of Light in August, while the return fixture at The Valley in January 2019 ended in a 1–1 draw.

[10] The Montserrat international Lyle Taylor was Charlton's top scorer for the season with 21 goals and 9 assists, while Josh Maja was Sunderland's most prolific striker having scored 15 times prior to the semi-finals, despite having left the club in January.

[11] Sunderland's starting line-up was the same as for their second semi-final leg against Portsmouth, although Aiden McGeady, who had scored 11 goals during the regular season, had recovered from a foot injury sustained in April to be named amongst the substitutes.

[17] Charlton kicked off the first half around 3 p.m. in front of a Wembley crowd of 76,155 in their regular red home kit, with Sunderland playing in their black away strip.

Two minutes later, Phillips failed to control a backpass from Sarr, and the ball rolled into the Charlton net for an own goal, putting Sunderland 1–0 ahead.

On nine minutes, Sunderland were forced to make their first substitution, bringing on Lewis Morgan for Power who had failed to recover from the earlier injury.

Aribo's pass to Anfernee Dijksteel was flicked to Taylor whose cross was side-footed into the Sunderland goal from 3 yards (2.7 m) by Ben Purrington.

A foul late on in the half by Sarr on George Honeyman earned the Charlton defender the first yellow card of the game.

[19] Sarr was substituted during half time and replaced by Jason Pearce as Charlton switched to a diamond formation in midfield.

They kicked off the second half with the first chance coming ten minutes in for Sunderland, as Maguire's cross was volleyed wide of the Charlton goal by Morgan.

Josh Cullen's subsequent free kick was headed into the box by Bauer but the Sunderland goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin claimed the ball in a crowded area.

In the final moments of added time, Cullen's deep cross from a quickly taken free kick was met by Bauer whose initial header was blocked by Flanagan, but the German defender was able to slide the ball into the Sunderland net from 4 yards (3.7 m) for a Charlton lead.

"[20] Jack Ross, the Sunderland manager, noted: "I came here to take the club back to the Championship at the first time of asking and I haven't been able to do that ... We have not fallen short by very much – but we have done.

The league was temporarily suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic with Sunderland in seventh position, equal on points with Peterborough who occupied the final play-off place, with eight games remaining to be played.

[23] Charlton's first season back in the EFL Championship was also interrupted by the pandemic with the club were in the relegation zone, in 22nd position, with nine games left.