The Black Cats are now just one game away from Wembley having overcome a stubborn Dons side, with an own goal and strikes from Aiden McGeady and Charlie Wyke sealing victory.
But who impressed at stadium:mk, and who has work to do moving forward?
Scroll down and click through the pages as our chief football writer Phil Smith dishes out his merit marks from the clash:
![Made some very smart stops, particularly from Scott Fraser in the second half, in what was comfortably his best showing in a Sunderland shirt. Composed throughout. 6](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjU3NDljYTY3LWU5NTMtNDUxZS1hNGM2LTlmZjU0NDNiMmNiNjo2OWM0Nzg4Mi01Y2NlLTQwYjgtOWQzOS1mMTMwODA2NGVlZTk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Remi Matthews
Made some very smart stops, particularly from Scott Fraser in the second half, in what was comfortably his best showing in a Sunderland shirt. Composed throughout. 6 Photo: FRANK REID 2020
![Struggled in the latter stages of the first half as MK Dons got a lot of joy in behind him, but came through that period and was comfortable for much of the second half. 6](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjU1M2IzYjJmLWUzMWUtNDk5ZC05M2U1LWNjODUxOTRiNjNhNTpkODlkODgwOS03NDE5LTRkMzgtYjk0ZC1lYzY5MWVhMDViNzQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. Max Power
Struggled in the latter stages of the first half as MK Dons got a lot of joy in behind him, but came through that period and was comfortable for much of the second half. 6 Photo: FRANK REID 2020
![Looked strong defensively and was dominant in the vast majority of his duels before Johnson opted to protect him with a change relatively early in the second half. 6](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmYxMTRmODAyLTVhMTItNDA5ZC04YzI0LTM2MjAzNzE4Nzc5Zjo0MGFmMjFjOS0zY2I2LTRjOGMtYTBiNy0zMzgxYjc1OWQ4YmQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Jordan Willis
Looked strong defensively and was dominant in the vast majority of his duels before Johnson opted to protect him with a change relatively early in the second half. 6 Photo: Frank Reid
![One or two nervous moments but generally played well and made some very important interceptions when his team looked to be under a bit of pressure. 7](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmM3MWI4N2RlLTI4ZWYtNDY3NC1iMDBlLWY1YmMzMWViMzA2Yzo2ZTM1NGQ1NS1jOWYyLTQ2YmMtYWE0ZS1kZjViZWMzMmU2M2U=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. Tom Flanagan
One or two nervous moments but generally played well and made some very important interceptions when his team looked to be under a bit of pressure. 7 Photo: Frank Reid