Sunderland secured a place in the Europa League at Chelsea’s expense, beating them to qualify for European competition for the first time in 53 years.
The Black Cats became just the fifth team to qualify for Europe via their Premier League position a year after achieving promotion, finishing seventh. Chelsea, meanwhile, trailed home 10th and failed to qualify for Europe in interim boss Calum McFarlane’s final game in charge.
Black Cats Beat Chelsea
A first-time volley from defender Trai Hume opened the scoring at the Stadium of Light, catching goalkeeper Robert Sanchez off guard midway through the first half. Chelsea defender Malo Gusto then turned Brian Brobbey’s wayward shot into his own net in the second half. Although Cole Palmer reduced the deficit with a long-range effort, Sunderland held on.
It was made easier for the home side when Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana got two yellow cards in quick succession in the second half.
They resulted in Chelsea’s eighth red card in the league this season, twice as many dismissals as the next highest club, and their most ever across a single Premier League campaign.
Le Bris on Comeback Win
Sunderland were worthy winners, having dominated much of the match despite conceding first-half chances to Palmer and Joao Pedro, while Brobbey and substitute Habib Diarra also missed big opportunities for the hosts.
That was the shout from the stadium announcer when telling the home supporters their team had qualified for the Europa League.
‘We like to react, it’s the story of the season’ – Le Bris on comeback win.
In truth, the party had begun hours before kick-off, but it was bedlam by the end of the match, as fans held heads in hands in disbelief at the team’s remarkable achievement.
Sunderland’s Journey to Europe
It is only four years since the Black Cats were in League One, with Luke O’Nien and Hume having been with them throughout the journey and combining here for the first goal.
This is also a team that was cleverly improved in a £163m summer transfer spend last year.
- Sunderland qualify for the Europa League
- Chelsea finish 10th and won’t play in any Uefa competition next season
- Trai Hume opens the scoring and Malo Gusto’s own goal doubles the lead
- Cole Palmer pulls one back for Chelsea, but Wesley Fofana is then sent off
Having only gone up via the Championship play-offs, it is little surprise many predicted Sunderland would struggle.
In each of the past two campaigns, all three promoted teams were relegated straight back to the Championship, so it would have been understandable if Sunderland had simply been content with finishing 17th.
However, despite playing down expectations of European qualification, head coach Regis le Bris – supported by owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and the club’s aggressive recruitment strategy – has led the club into new te
The hosts leapfrogged not only Chelsea but also Brighton and Brentford, who both failed to win on Sunday, to secure qualification for Europe’s second-tier competition.