Sunderland vs Chelsea

Sunderland

Sunderland

LLDDW

24 May 2026

Full Time
21
Chelsea

Chelsea

WLDLW
Stadium of Light
C. Kavanagh
2025/2026

Match Report

Sunderland pulled off a remarkable final-day win at the Stadium of Light, beating Chelsea 2-1 to seal a place in European football for the first time in over 50 years. The Black Cats were dominant throughout, and Wesley Fofana's second-half red card extinguished any remaining hope of a Chelsea comeback.

Trai Hume gave the hosts the lead on 25 minutes with a sharp toe-poked volley, before a deflected Bryan Brobbey effort cannoned off Malo Gusto to double the advantage just after the break. Cole Palmer pulled one back for Chelsea almost immediately (56'), but Fofana's dismissal for a second yellow card at 62 minutes effectively ended the contest.

The result sends Sunderland into the Europa League in their first season back in the top flight — their first European campaign since 1974. Manager Regis Le Bris called it "perfect." For Chelsea, a 10th-place finish and no European football next season marked a deeply disappointing end to their campaign.

Match Events

25'
42'
N. Angulo(Tripping)
50'
M. Gusto (o.g.)[2 - 0]
52'
L. Geertruida(Unsportsmanlike conduct)
53'
54'
W. Fofana(Tripping)
56'
69'
E. Fernandez(Holding)
73'
G. Xhaka(Tripping)
89'
N. Sadiki(Tripping)
90+7'
Joao Pedro(Tripping)
90+8'
90+11'
C. Palmer(Unsportsmanlike conduct)

Standings

#WDLGDPts
7Sunderland141212-654
10Chelsea141014+652

Statistics

44%Possession56%
21Shots8
6Shots on Target3
6Corners2
15Fouls12
2Offsides1
5Yellow Cards5
0Red Cards1
346Passes452
2Saves5