Six months on, Borini is looking to retake the crown as Sunderland’s derby hero.
The Italian cemented his position in Wearside folklore two years ago when he sealed victory over the Magpies with a goal which was just as spectacular as Defoe’s.
It was a strike which announced Borini’s place on the stage in what was to be Gus Poyet’s fairy-tale escape from the drop after the then Liverpool striker was just two months into his Sunderland career.
He jokingly suggests that he’s watched the footage of that goal “two million times” since.
But Borini then cemented that mantle by netting the opener in Sunderland’s second successive 3-0 win at St James’s Park, as the Black Cats did the derby double for the first time since 1966-67.
“The first one was probably more important because we didn’t win a game until then, we only had one point.
“I wasn’t playing so I came off the bench and scored the winner. That makes it even better.
“The second one was important, but we weren’t so desperate to win. It was a 3-0 and to win away in their stadium was good.
“But, as a combination of emotions, it was better the first time.
“The goals count for one though – if you score an overhead kick or a penalty it’s only valued as one.”
Rather than being overwhelmed by the situation though, Borini relished it; laughing at Newcastle keeper Tim Krul before effortlessly converting and celebrating in trademark style on the billboards towards the delirious Sunderland fans up in the Gods.
“The keeper tried to put me off. He said he was in my head, but I just laughed, because I knew he wasn’t,” he said.
“The penalties are something that I practise, they don’t just come from anywhere.
“I practice in training with the keepers to find a way to score all the time.
“It seems simple but it is not.
“When you have these types of games the pressure is different.”