Wimbledon were relegated to the Second Division as Sunderland bounced back from their FA Cup semi-final defeat. The Dons avoided relegation with a shock win at Wigan on Saturday but still needed a win to stay up.
Marcus Stewart headed Sunderland ahead on the stroke of half-time, but Malvin Kamara struck a fine volley from Jermaine Darlington's cross to level.
It was not enough as Darren Byfield stroked the ball home after being set up by George McCartney to seal the win.
The Milton Keynes club, relegated from the Premiership in 2000 became the first team in the Nationwide league to be relegated or promoted.
Sunderland, who still have hopes of automatic promotion, made five changes to the side that lost to Millwall in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Kevin Kyle, substituted on Sunday, squandered a host of chances, heading Matt Piper's cross, then side-footing wide after being set up by Stewart.
He was also denied by a superb goalline clearance by Dons defender Harry Ntimban-Zeh.
Stewart's goal put the visitors in command, but the Dons levelled against the run of play midway through the second half.
Mart Poom had no chance with Kamara's clinical volley.
Sunderland should have re-taken the lead shortly after, but Julio Arca's cross was headed against the bar by Carl Robinson.
Wade Small fired over for the Dons as they pressed, but Sunderland clinched the points in the 73rd minute.
Arca passed to George McCartney, who cut the ball back to Byfield and the former Rotherham marksman stroked the ball home to seal Wimbledon's fate.
Wimbledon: Bevan, Oyedele, Ntimban-Zeh, Williams, Lewington, Darlington, Smith, Chorley, Puncheon, Gray, Mackie.
Subs: Small, Martin, Gier, Kamara, Harding.
Sunderland: Poom, Williams, Breen, Bjorklund, McCartney, Piper, Robinson, Thirlwell, Arca, Kyle, Stewart.
Subs: Tommy Smith, Thornton, Byfield, Babb, Myhre.
Referee: S Mathieson (Cheshire)
MMIX
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Dons' dark day