EFL Cup: Sunderland 1 Shrewsbury 0 - Report and pictures

The second round clash at the Stadium of Light was decided by a fine Adnan Januzaj strike six minutes from time.

But Micky Mellon's men, who matched their Premier League counterparts throughout, can hold their head up high at pushing the Black Cats all the way.

Sunderland headed into the tie with a point to prove and they wasted little time getting into their rhythm as a superb floated diagonal pass had just too much on it for Wahbi Khazri, who had made a superb darting run.

Tunisian Khazri was heavily involved early on, alongside fellow tricky winger Januzaj - on-loan from Manchester United.

Old Trafford sensation Januzaj whipped in a devilish cross on five minutes that Khazri was able to glance on, with nobody in red and white at the back post.

A whipped cross from Salop right-back Joe Riley earned Micky Mellon's charges their first corner, and it was as that was was cleared by the hosts that Sunderland broke through Joel Asoro and the covering Gary Deegan took a yellow card for the team as he unceremoniously ended the break.

Sunderland, through Januzaj and skipper Patrick Van Aanholt, had already wasted a couple of presentable free-kick openings, sending both into an imposing Salop wall. The returning Antoni Sarcevic was also booked for Town early on for bringing down Lynden Gooch.

But Town were matching their hosts kick for kick and Mellon's well-drilled side were repelling everything Moyes's men had to throw at them.

Sarcevic's fine delivery from the right was almost inch-perfect for Ivan Toney - a popular figure having joined on-loan from Newcastle United - but the outstretched leg of Papy Djilobodji halted Town's progress.

As Shrewsbury probed, a fine spell of possession brought their first effort on target, the phase of play ended with Junior Brown's delivery from the right flicked on by Louis Dodds, but the difficult chance lacked pace and was picked up by Jordan Pickford.

Senegalese defender Djilobodji, a summer signing from Chelsea, then almost connected to a dangerous Khazri free-kick midway through the half.

As Salop matched their Premier League hosts, chances were few and far between but the Stadium of Light outfit burst into life as the half reached its finish.

First, debutant Steven Pienaar evaded the Town midfield and, after reaching the edge of Leutwiler's box, struck a well-hit shot just over the Swiss's crossbar.

But Moyes's side fashioned an even better chance just a minute before the half-time whistle. Superb combination play between Van Aanholt and academy star Joel Asoro played adventurous full-back Van Aanholt in on goal, but Leutwiler was rapid off his line and able to thwart the Dutchman.

Mellon's players came out for the second period full of adventure and energy and a Toney-lead break caused in the Sunderland backline. The striker originally failed to connect with the bursting Riley but the play was recycled and Riley found Dodds whose dangerous cross was cleared for a Town corner.

It was one of a couple of corners earned by Mellon's men and one was well delivered by Sarcevic, centre-half McGivern rose well at the near post but Toney was unable to generate enough power on his stab to seriously trouble Pickford.

Despite being the better side in the early stages of the second-half, Leutwiler came to the rescue of Town on the hour mark with an outstanding save to deny Asoro.

The quick-footed Januzaj for once got the better of Brown and his low cross was on a plate for Asoro but the youngster was denied by Leutwiler's impressive reflexes from six yards.

Pickford was forced into his best work between the Sunderland sticks yet to deny a spectacular effort from Toney. The frontman broke free down the inside left channel and struck a powerful drive from 20 yards out at the angle, forcing the home shot-stopper into a sprawling stop.

If Town held their own in the opening period they were on the front foot in the second, but that good work was almost undone with 20 minutes remaining as, without looking, Deegan played a dangerous backpass straight into Asoro.

The Swedish youngster looked in on Leutwiler's goal but a miraculous recovery from Adam El-Abd got his team-mate out of trouble and get the game goalless.

The introduction of Jim O'Brien and Andy Mangan offered a different dimension to the Salop attack and it was the latter who almost squeezed a cross through to the unmarked O'Brien with 15 minutes to play.

But with 80 minutes on the clock, the hosts carved out their best opening of the night. A superb move played in Van Aanholt in the inside the left position and the full-back squared for Khazri, whose thunderous strike rippled the side netting with most of the Stadium of Light cheering.

But with six minutes to go the hosts struck what looked the winner as Belgian star Januzaj showed his undoubted class by rocketing a strike into Leutwiler's top corner from 25-yards to send a brave Town out of the EFL Cup despite Town's best efforts - including an agonising header wide in added time by substitute George Waring.