Late Winner at Stamford Bridge: Sunderland Stuns Chelsea 2-1

Match Overview

Chelsea squandered a chance to climb the Premier League table, losing 1-2 at home to Sunderland on Saturday evening as the ninth round.

Alejandro Garnacho opened Chelsea’s (4), while Isidro (22) and Moroccan Shams al-Din Talabi (90+3) scored for Sunderland.

Sunderland climbed temporarily to second place, raising their tally to 17 points, while Chelsea stayed on 14 points in seventh.

Chelsea started the match with a lineup led by coach Enzo Maresca, with Robert Sánchez in goal, and Reece James, Achimbong, Trevoh Chalobah, and Marc Cucurella in defense.

Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández operated as holding midfielders, behind a front trio of Pedro Neto, Joao Pedro, and Garnacho, with teenager Marc Gio as the striker.

But four minutes in, Chelsea opened the scoring when Neto threaded a superb through ball to Garnacho on the left; the Argentine burst forward and fired a low shot between the keeper's legs into net.

Garnacho’s first Chelsea goal since his summer move from Manchester United for 40 million pounds lit up the Stamford Bridge stands, and it looked like the team was on its way to a comfortable night.

But Sunderland replied quickly, showing a strong character despite a modest start, as Frenchman Enzo Lovi attempted to level at ten minutes with a free-kick that rose just over the bar.

And the guests' confidence grew as minutes passed, while Chelsea appeared slow to shift to defense.

After several attempts, Sunderland equalized in the 22nd minute from a long throw that caused chaos in the box, bouncing off Achimbong to Traore, who shot through a crowd, and Isidor converted from close range.

That goal revived Sunderland, who kept pressing, and Isidor almost added a second after six minutes with a powerful shot from a tight angle that struck the near post.

In the second half, Neto tried to spearhead a quick counter, but his pass to Garnacho was imperfect, allowing Sunderland's defense to retreat and frustrate Chelsea.

At minute 57, the Italian coach made the first substitution, bringing on Brazilian winger Estivao to revive the left flank.

And the substitution nearly paid off after just three minutes as Estivao collected a ground pass from Cucurella inside the box and struck a powerful shot, but Moukieli intervened at the last moment and diverted it for a corner.

Chelsea stayed more determined to take the lead, but goalkeeper Sánchez and his defense handled deliveries well, while Cucurella remained active and dangerous, colliding with the keeper while clearing a high ball in the 64th minute, prompting a medical team intervention as the Spaniard rose to applause.

And Joao Pedro squandered a golden chance after Caicedo won the ball from Gertrudo and fed it to him inside the box, yet he hesitated between shooting and passing, losing possession in a strange moment that angered the crowd.

The player himself demanded a penalty after colliding with the same defender, but the referee signaled to continue after a quick VAR check.

Meanwhile Sunderland continued limited threats at times, via well-organized counters from Sadiqi and Traore, before they were withdrawn, with Moroccan Shams al-Din Talabi coming on to reinforce the back line in the 65th minute.

At the 74th minute, Sunderland nearly seized the lead through their deadliest chance of the second half, as the Swiss Granit Chaka sprinted behind the defense, but the young Achimbong covered brilliantly, forcing Chaka to shoot under pressure and the ball dropped harmlessly into Sánchez's hands.

Marisca quickly responded with a double substitution in the 76th minute, replacing Gio and Achimbong with Getens and Tosin Adarabio.

And as the end approached, Maresca kept injecting fresh legs, bringing George and Andre Santos on for Joao Pedro and Neto at the 86th minute, hoping to snatch a late winner.

And in the closing moments, Chelsea pressed with all guns blazing; at 90+3, the ball reached Bryan Proby who kept it smartly inside the box before laying it back for Talabi, who slammed a low finish into the bottom-right corner past Sánchez.