Sunderland Stun Chelsea With Dramatic Late Winner at Stamford Bridge
Newly-promoted Sunderland pulled off a remarkable 2–1 upset over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, courtesy of a dramatic stoppage-time strike from Chemsdine Talbi. The last-gasp goal ended the Black Cats’ 14-year winless run in West London and sent their travelling fans into delirium.
Chelsea had looked poised for a comfortable victory after Alejandro Garnacho opened his account for the club in just the fifth minute.
The Argentine winger latched onto a precise through ball from Pedro Neto, danced past his marker, and fired low beyond goalkeeper Robin Roefs to give the Blues an early advantage.
Enzo Maresca’s men dominated possession and pinned Sunderland deep, with Marc Cucurella and Moisés Caicedo both coming close to doubling the lead.
But the visitors grew into the game and capitalized on a rare opportunity midway through the first half.
In the 22nd minute, chaos ensued in Chelsea’s box following a scrappy corner. Bertrand Traoré’s shot was blocked, but Wilson Isidor pounced on the rebound to prod home from close range, levelling the scores and shifting the momentum.
From then on, Sunderland adopted a disciplined defensive approach, crowding their box and forcing Chelsea to shoot from distance.
The hosts continued to dominate but found little joy against a resolute backline. “Chelsea were on top for most of the game,” the club noted in a post-match statement, “but Sunderland’s deep defensive shape — often with all 11 players behind the ball — made it extremely difficult to find space or create clear chances.”
Seeking a breakthrough, Maresca introduced teenage winger Estevão Willian in the second half. The youngster’s deflected effort narrowly missed the target, while Enzo Fernández was denied by a sharp Roefs save. Still, Sunderland held firm.
The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time. With Chelsea pushing forward for a winner, Sunderland struck on the counter. Brian Brobbey muscled his way past a defender to control a long pass and calmly teed up Talbi, who slotted into the far corner to seal an unforgettable win. “The game ended in spectacular fashion,” Sunderland wrote on their official website. “Brobbey showed great strength to set up Talbi, who finished brilliantly in front of our fans — pure pandemonium.”
Manager Régis Le Bris hailed his players’ bravery and composure after the match. “We showed heart, discipline, and belief,” he said. “Against a team like Chelsea, you need to suffer and stay focused. The players deserved every bit of this victory.”
For Chelsea, the defeat was a bitter blow after dominating large spells of the contest. “We kept pushing, but their defending was exceptional,” the club reflected. “One lapse in the final moments cost us the result.”
The win propels Sunderland further up the Premier League table, underlining their impressive start to life back in the top flight. Chelsea, meanwhile, will aim to bounce back quickly as they turn their attention to a midweek Carabao Cup clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers, before hosting rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a London derby next weekend.
