Everton 1-3 Sunderland: Black Cats stage second-half fightback to boost chances of European qualification
Report and free highlights as Sunderland fight back to stun Everton; hosts were booed off at Hill Dickinson Stadium; Brian Brobbey, Enzo Le Fee and Wilson Isidor scored for the Black Cats; Regis Le Bris's side are now one point off European places in ninth
Sunday 17 May 2026 18:13, UK
Sunderland staged a second-half fightback to beat Everton 3-1 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and boost their hopes of European qualification by climbing to ninth in the Premier League.
Everton were on course to boost their own chances of a top-eight finish when Merlin Rohl scored his first goal for the club via a deflection in the first half but they ended up being booed off by the home fans after the visitors completed a stunning turnaround.
Brian Brobbey scored their 59th-minute equaliser, finishing emphatically at the near post after showing pace and strength to hold off James Tarkowski following a misplaced pass by Jake O'Brien.
Enzo Le Fee put Regis Le Bris' side ahead when he turned home from close range after being teed up by Chris Rigg in the 81st minute, with Wilson Isidor adding a stoppage-time third when he finished brilliantly from fellow substitute Habib Diarra's low cross.
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In between Sunderland's second and third goals, O'Brien missed a glorious chance to level for Everton when he sent a close-range header too close to Robin Roefs from Tyrique George's cross.
The victory puts Sunderland just one point behind Brentford, who occupy eighth-place following a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, meaning the promoted Black Cats will host 10th-placed Chelsea on the final day in a potential European shootout.
Everton, meanwhile, will head to Tottenham in their final fixture knowing their top-eight hopes are all but over after their fans vented their frustration at a defeat which leaves the Toffees three points off eighth place in 11th, without a win in six games.
The defeat made for an unhappy final home game for Everton captain Seamus Coleman, who appeared as a late substitute having this week announced he will depart at the end of the campaign.
Analysis: Contrasting fortunes in Euro race
A brilliant first season back in the top flight for Sunderland may yet finish on an historic high. They were tipped to go straight back down to the Championship. Instead, they will face Chelsea on the final day with a chance to qualify for Europe for the first time since 1973.
The Black Cats will need other results to go their way too, but regardless of how it finishes, this has been a season to cherish for their fans, who saluted the efforts of their players at the Hill Dickinson Stadium as those in blue endured boos.
Everton's form has collapsed at the worst possible moment. Their 3-0 victory over Chelsea in March made it three wins from four at the time but it's none in six now. Most worrying for David Moyes is their glaring vulnerability defensively.
Everton have now conceded at least two goals in six straight games. Sunderland only had three shots on target on Sunday but it summed up the home side's current plight that all three of them beat Jordan Pickford and found the back of the net.
The Toffees are not mathematically out of the race for Europe but, three points back, with a negative goal difference, it will take something close to a miracle. Sunderland's prospects are brighter.
Moyes: We messed up big-time
Everton boss David Moyes to Sky Sports: "We messed up big-time today.
"We didn't look like a European team at times in the game, that's for sure.
"Things didn't quite go at different times for us. We lost a really poor first goal, but then we got back in the game and it looked as though, if anybody was going to score at that time, it was more likely to be us.
"And then we gave away a second goal, and trying to find our way back into the game, we lose a third one.
"The players have done an amazing job at different times, but it wasn't today.
"Everton's not had the opportunity to get in and around the top end of the league for a while, so I think that's the opportunity I'm more disappointed they've missed.
"They've missed an opportunity to build a big bit of momentum here, to keep pushing on. Today showed we're probably not ready for that."
Le Bris: We can do something special on final day
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris speaking to Sky Sports:
"We are becoming ambitious stage after stage and now it's a reality because we'll have one more game and, depending on the result, we have the opportunity to achieve something really special.
"It was already special, but now it's just a final and we'll see.
"It was a marathon last season [in the Championship]. It's the club, the staff, the team, the direction; we are really well aligned. It makes the difference at the end and I'm really proud.
"We'll just enjoy the week, work hard and we'll see at the end.
"The fans deserve it because they are always really supportive and behind us. We've had highs, but also lows and they were still behind us. I hope they will enjoy the last fixture at home."
WATCH: All the goals
Sunderland's powers of recovery - Opta stats
- Sunderland have gained more points from losing positions than any other side in the Premier League this season, with 22. It's the Black Cats's most across a single campaign in the competition.
- Everton manager David Moyes has lost his last three Premier League meetings with his former sides, with this his heaviest such defeat on home soil since a 3-1 loss to Manchester United with West Ham in December 2020.
- Everton have failed to win their last six Premier League games (D3 L3). The Toffees last endured a longer winless run in the top-flight between December 2023 and April 2024 under Sean Dyche, when they went 13 games without a win.
