Exeter City have twice pegged back Sunderland in the first half as the sides go in at half time of their League Cup clash level at 3-3.
After a quiet start, Sunderland took the lead as Jack Rodwell found the bottom corner after Danny Graham's blocked shot fell for him a few yards out.
Rodwell turned provider a few minutes later as he released Jermain Defoe in on goal, and he flicked it round the keeper and rolled it into the net.
Exeter hit back though, as Danny Butterfield's ball over the top was latched on to by Manny Oyeleke, and he found the bottom corner from inside the box.
The League Two side drew level just after the half-hour mark as David Wheeler nodded in Lee Holmes's cross, but Sunderland regained the lead before the break as Defoe beat a couple of defenders before finding the bottom corner from the middle of the box.
Exeter equalised for a second time through Tom McCready though, as he fired past the keeper after Wheeler set him up from a few yards out.