Sunderland capped off their remarkable return to the Premier League with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Chelsea, securing a spot in the Europa League. The match took place at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, May 24, 2026, and was crucial for both teams, with Sunderland needing a win to have any hope of qualifying for Europe.

Match Overview

With the stakes high, Sunderland's Regis Le Bris knew his team had to secure a win and rely on other results to go their way. The Black Cats delivered, dominating the match and benefiting from Brighton's defeat to Manchester United, which allowed them to finish the season in seventh place. Trai Hume opened the scoring in the 25th minute, followed by an own goal from Chelsea's Malo Gusto shortly after halftime. Chelsea's Cole Palmer found the net in the 56th minute, but it was merely a consolation goal as the Blues struggled to find their rhythm throughout the match.

Key Moments

From the outset, Sunderland established control, keeping Chelsea pinned in their half for much of the first period. The breakthrough came when Robin Roefs delivered a long ball that was flicked on by Luke O'Nien, setting up Hume for the opening goal. Chelsea's performance was lackluster, and they faced further challenges when Wesley Fofana was sent off in the 62nd minute, leaving them with ten men and diminishing their chances of a comeback.

This victory not only marked a significant achievement for Sunderland in their first season back in the Premier League but also meant Chelsea would miss out on European competition entirely. The result highlighted the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs as the season came to a close.