Sunderland U18s 1 Leicester City U18s 2 - half-time
The game was less than a minute old when Garner chopped down Jack Colback - and somehow escaped a booking.
Gradel, prolific at youth team level this season, opened the scoring in the fourth minute, firing a left-foot shot past Carson from just outside the area.
Sunderland, backed by a big crowd, were on level terms a minute later, Henderson's inswinging corner sneaking in at the far post.
Leicester's side included three players with first-team experience but Sunderland, with seven first-year scholars in their team, were not daunted and they took the game to the Foxes in the opening stages.
Gavin Donoghue nearly put the Black Cats ahead in the 15th minute, just failing to make good contact with Henderson's cross.
Josh Home-Jackson missed a grerat chance to put Sunderland in front in the 19th minute. Dowson's shot from an angle was spilled by Pentney and the striker was there to pounce, but somehow hit the post from six yards.
Home-Jackson was still smarting whe he got another chance as the ball came back in, this time his touch let him down and Pentney gathered. It was a big let-off for Leicester.
Sunderland played some good stuff in the first half and Henderson tested Pentney from the edge of the area after a good move in the 20th minute.
The Foxes, who had scored an impressive 96 goals this season befroe the game, were always a threat on the break and McKay's shot from 20 yards took a deflection before looping just over, in the 21st minute.
Sunderland opened up City with a great move in the 27th minute. Kay, Weir, Dowson and Hendersonw ere all involved befiore Lusconbe went clear in the left side of the box.
He chose to cut inside and was crowded out. It fell to Home-Jackson who poked a right-foot shot wide from 10 yards.
It was an open first half and City dangerman Eric Odhiambo flashed a shot just wide in the 30th minute, warning Sunderland that they would not have it all their own way.
Sunderland paid for their missed chances in the first half when McKay put the Foxes ahead just before half-time.
Andy King's shot fell into the path of the prolific striker and he slotted it past Carson.
Sunderland responded when Colback burst forward in the 45th minute, but he was stopped by last-man John Mattock.
Colback had a chance to deliver a telling cross in first-half injury time but his centre hit the first man.
Sunderland: Carson, Kay, Donoghue, McArdle, Liddle, Henderson, Weir, Colback, Luscombe, Dowson, Home-Jackson. Subs: Backhouse, Waghorn, Cook, Chandler, Madden.
Leicester City: Pentney, Cox, Mattock, Magunda, Lycett, Garner, Gradel, King, McKay, Odhiambo, Beswick. Subs: Chambers, Cisak, Tuttle, Turner, Jauow.
