Norwich City Under-21s were beaten by a strong Sunderland side 2-0 in their first game of the Premier League 2 season.
Sunderland started out the better side, creating chances through Ellis Taylor and Jewison Bennette, with Vicente Reyes making a number of good saves.
But the hosts made their early dominance count, as Taylor opened the scoring from close range.
Norwich would register chances of their own, with Finley Welch a bright spark in the first half. His mazy run led to Ken Aboh seeing a shot saved well by the Sunderland goalkeeper.
Harrison Jones had a golden opportunity to double the Black Cats' lead, but fired over from close range.
In the final chance before the break, Welch did well to pounce on a loose ball but could only find the side-netting with his shot.
Norwich began the second half on the front foot, with Aboh and Adian Manning producing efforts.
Forsyth was next to threaten, seeing his effort go just wide of the post.
Ben Crompton came close to adding a second for Sunderland, but his curled effort was wide of Reyes' post.
Welch thought he had done enough to earn Norwich a penalty late on after going down under challenge, but the referee was unmoved and waved away any protests.
Five minutes from time, Sunderland doubled their advantage from the penalty spot. Taylor added his, and Sunderland's second, by sending Reyes the wrong way.
Alan Neilson's side return to PL2 action on Friday night, hosting Nottingham Forest at the Lotus Training Centre.
Sunderland Under-21s: Young, Johnson, Crompton, Triantis, Huggins, Rigg (Chiabi h-t), Burke (Bainbridge 70), Jones (Gardner 60), Taylor, Luis Hemir (Spellman 60), Bennette.
Unused sub: Cameron.
Goals: Taylor (13, 85)
Norwich City Under-21s: Reyes, McIntosh (Montóia 60), Wilson, Adegboyega, Renecke, Brooke, Riley (Watt 82), Manning, Forsyth (Coker 75), Welch, Aboh.
Unused subs: Craven, Reindorf.
Photo Credit: Ian Horrocks, Sunderland AFC