Sunderland Shock Chelsea with Late Winner in Gritty 2-1 Victory at Stamford Bridge
Sunderland stunned Chelsea with a 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge — one of their most memorable wins on the ground in recent history. Regis Le Bris’s side executed their tactics perfectly, defending with discipline while staying dangerous on the counterattack.
When Alejandro Garnacho scored just six minutes in, it looked like Le Bris’s decision to use a back five had backfired. But Sunderland stayed calm, grew into the game, and eventually found their rhythm. Their late winner, scored by Chemsdine Talbi, came slightly against the flow of play but capped off a well-worked counterattack. The win earned Sunderland three vital points and showcased a blueprint for how to approach away matches. Reinildo, returning to the starting lineup, delivered an outstanding performance.
While the introduction of Lutsharel Geertruida made it seem like Sunderland planned to sit deep, their approach was more dynamic. Out of possession, they dropped into a back five, but with the ball, Trai Hume stepped into midfield. They also pressed Chelsea high, forcing an early chance when Dan Ballard’s header was saved by Sanchez.
However, that adventurous style carried risk. A mistake from Reinildo allowed Chelsea to break through midfield, with Pedro Neto driving forward before setting up Garnacho for a low strike that Roefs might have saved. Still, Sunderland regrouped quickly and equalized when Mukiele’s long throw was flicked on by Traoré, allowing Isidor to finish smartly from close range.
As the game progressed, Sunderland grew more confident. Reinildo helped neutralize Neto’s threat, and although Chelsea controlled possession, Sunderland’s defense stayed compact. Garnacho nearly doubled his tally, but Roefs denied him with an excellent block. Sunderland survived a spell of late pressure and entered halftime level — thanks in large part to a strong showing from Noah Sadiki.
Chelsea dominated the ball in the second half, but clear chances were rare. Sunderland relied on their defensive shape and occasional counterattacks. One promising break saw Xhaka denied by a brilliant tackle from Acheampong, who impressed throughout.
Then, deep into stoppage time, Sunderland struck again. Reinildo won a crucial challenge on Estevao, Geertruida launched the ball forward, and substitute Brian Brobbey held off Tosin before laying it off to Talbi. The youngster calmly placed his shot into the far corner to seal a dramatic win.
Sunderland withstood heavy pressure but deserved their victory. Chelsea struggled to make their possession count, while Sunderland showed grit, organization, and belief — proving they can compete with anyone in the league and taking a major step toward safety.
