SOUTHAMPTON
31. Artur Boruc
22. Calum Chambers
6. Jose Fonte
5. Dejan Lovren
23. Luke Shaw 46'
4. Morgan Schneiderlin 46'
12. Victor Wanyama
16. James Ward-Prowse
9. Jay Rodriguez
20. Adam Lallana 69'
7. Rickie Lambert
Subs
1. Kelvin Davis
2. Nathaniel Clyne 46'
8. Steven Davis
10. Gaston Ramirez 69'
17. Daniel Osvaldo 46'
18. Jack Cork
26. Jos Hooiveld
SUNDERLAND
20. Keiren Westwood
12. Ondrej Celustka
16. John O'Shea
21. Modibo Diakite
14. Jack Colback 54'
11. Adam Johnson
8. Craig Gardner
7. Sebastian Larsson
23. Emanuele Giaccherini 82'
28. Stephane Sessegnon 46'
17. Jozy Altidore
Subs
6. Cabral
10. Connor Wickham 82'
15. David Vaughan 54'
19. David Moberg Karlsson
25. Vito Mannone
27. Dong-Won Ji 46'
29. Valentin Roberge
It had looked like an early goal from the diminutive Emanuele Giaccherini would see Paolo Di Canio's men take three points back to the north east.
Standing at just 5ft 5in, the smallest player of the pitch headed home a Sebastian Larsson corner unmarked in just the third minute.
Poor finishing, fine goalkeeping from Kieren Westwood and plain old bad luck looked set to deny Saints, only for centre-back Fonte to head home two minutes from time.
It was just reward for Mauricio Pochettino's side, who came into the clash buoyed by a fine opening-day win at West Brom and another big-money acquisition.
Following moves for Dejan Lovren and Victor Wanyama, Dani Osvaldo arrived this week from Roma for a fee that could reach £14.5million.
The forward was named amongst the substitutes at St Mary's, where another Italy international struck the first blow.
Larsson sent across a corner from the left found Giaccherini unmarked and he nodded home to the delight of the hardy 1,867 travelling fans.
It was hardly the start Southampton wanted but one they responded well to.
Rickie Lambert slipped through a fine ball to Jay Rodriguez, who slotted past Westwood and wheeled away in celebration - only for the linesman to rule the sixth-minute leveller out for offside.
Saints again came close 10 minutes later, with Westwood this time the man in the way.
James Ward-Prowse, one of three 18-year-old academy graduates in the starting line-up, sent over a looped cross to Lambert, with only an exquisite Westwood save down to his right preventing the England international heading home.
Neither side was managing to dominate play but Sunderland were looking the more confident, epitomised by a cheeky in-swinging Larsson corner that almost caught Artur Boruc off guard.
A Rodriguez snap shot deflected wide off Craig Gardner when play returned to the other end, with Jozy Altidore proving a handful for Southampton's defence.
Lambert powered a header over at the back post, while Altidore, Fonte and Adam Lallana all had penalty appeals waved away before half-time.
Nathaniel Clyne and record-signing Osvaldo were introduced for the second period, with the latter close to having an immediate impact.
The Italian's deft pass saw Lallana with a clear shot on goal, only for Modibo Diakite to swoop in with a fantastic, late tackle.
The Saints captain saw a right-footed half volley curl just wide shortly afterwards, before an Osvaldo cross found Rodriguez, only for the Saints attacker to head straight at Westwood from close range.
Westwood did well to tip a long-range Lambert strike around the post but Saints were still struggling at the back, with only the onrushing Boruc preventing Altidore doubling the Black Cats' advantage.
It was Southampton in the ascendancy, though, and they kept knocking on the visitors' door.
Lambert and Rodriguez were the next to threaten, although the intensity began to peter out with 15 minutes remaining.
Osvaldo headed into the ground under pressure from John O'Shea as the match entered the closing stages as tempers began to fray.
Ironic cheers met referee Lee Mason's award for a foul on the new boy late on - a decision that led to Saints equalising at the death.
Ward-Prowse floated in the free-kick and centre-back Fonte met the ball with a powerful header that at last beat Westwood.
Rodriguez saw a shot deflect wide as Saints pushed for another in stoppage time, but there was to be no further goals.
Sunderland Fixtures ...
Tuesday August 27
19:45 League Cup - 2nd Rnd Sunderland v MK Dons
Saturday August 31
17:30 Premier League Crystal Palace v Sunderland
Saturday September 14
15:00 Premier League Sunderland v Arsenal
Saturday September 21
15:00 Premier League West Brom v Sunderland
Sunday September 29
16:00 Premier League Sunderland v Liverpool
SUNDERLAND SQUAD NUMBERS
5 Brown, Wesley Michael
6 Tavares Varela, Adilson
7 Larsson, Sebastian Bengt Ulf
8 Gardner, Craig
9 Fletcher, Steven Kenneth
10 Wickham, Connor Neil Ralph
11 Johnson, Adam
12 Celustka, Ondrej
13 Pickford, Jordan Lee
14 Colback, Jack Raymond
15 Vaughan, David Owen
16 O'Shea, John Francis
17 Altidore, Josmer
18 Mandron, Mikael
19 Karlsson, David Moberg
20 Westwood, Keiren
21 Diakite, Modibo
22 Ba, El Hadji
23 Giaccherini, Emanuele
24 Cuellar Jimenez, Carlos Javier
25 Mannone, Vito
27 Ji, Dong Won
28 Sessegnon, Stephane
29 Roberge, Valentin
33 Cattermole, Lee Barry