📰 Continuing coverage: Sunderland shock Everton 3-1 with late goals to boost top-eight fight

Sunderland produced a dramatic turnaround to beat Everton 3-1 at Goodison Park and stay alive in the Premier League’s top half. The Black Cats had looked dead and buried when Idrissa Gueye put Everton ahead after just three minutes. But Sunderland clawed their way back with goals from Ellis Harrison, Aiden McGeady, and a late penalty from Ross McCrorie. The win lifts Sunderland to ninth in the table, just five points behind sixth-placed West Ham United. They’re now within touching distance of a Europa League spot—something no one expected from a side that spent much of the season battling relegation.

Everton’s home struggles continue

Everton’s home form has been a huge problem this season. They’ve won just three times at Goodison Park all year and have struggled to break down deep-lying opponents. The Toffees dominated possession but lacked cutting edge in front of goal. They rarely threatened Sunderland’s goal after Gueye’s early strike, and their frustration was clear. Manager Sean Dyche will face tough questions about his side’s inability to turn games around at home. With just a handful of league wins all season, Everton are now just two points above the relegation zone.

The defeat comes just days after Dyche admitted his players were “not good enough” in a post-match interview. The loss to Sunderland—ranked 12th before kickoff—will only fuel concerns about Everton’s direction. Their next game is against Brighton, another side fighting for survival, so the pressure on Dyche isn’t going away anytime soon.

Sunderland’s resurgence under Ross

Sunderland’s win was their third in five games and a sign of a team finally finding its feet under manager Tony Mowbray. The Scottish boss took over in December with the club in real danger of dropping into the Championship. But a run of strong results—including draws with Arsenal and Manchester United—has turned things around. The Black Cats now sit comfortably in mid-table, and a European spot isn’t out of the question if they keep this form up.

Key to their revival has been the partnership between Ellis Harrison and Ross McCrorie. Harrison’s equalizer in the 28th minute gave Sunderland a lifeline, and his movement caused constant problems for Everton’s defense. McCrorie, playing out of position at striker, stepped up with the decisive penalty after being fouled by Ashley Young. The late drama showed Sunderland’s newfound resilience under Mowbray.

The race for Europe heats up

With the Europa League qualification spots up for grabs, Sunderland’s win throws another team into the mix. West Ham, Brighton, and Aston Villa are all within striking distance, but Sunderland’s run of form means they can’t be ruled out. Their next game is against Wolves, a side that’s been inconsistent but still dangerous on their day. If Sunderland can keep this momentum going, they might just force their way into the conversation.

For Everton, the defeat is another setback in a season that’s gone from bad to worse. The Toffees were once tipped for a top-four finish, but they’re now staring at a potential fight against relegation. Dyche’s job security is under threat, and the fans are getting restless. Their next few games will be critical in deciding whether they can turn things around.

The Premier League’s middle pack is tighter than ever this season. With just a few points separating most teams, every result matters. Sunderland’s win proves that nothing is decided yet, and the race for Europe is far from over.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: BBC Sport
  • Published: May 17, 2026 at 19:01 UTC
  • Category: Sports
  • Topics: #bbc · #sports · #football · #premier-league · #sunderland · #europe

Read the Full Story

This is a curated summary. For the complete article, original data, quotes and full analysis:

Read the full story on BBC Sport →

All reporting rights belong to the respective author(s) at BBC Sport. GlobalBR News summarizes publicly available content to help readers discover the most relevant global news.

Curated by GlobalBR News · May 17, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

O Sunderland surpreendeu o Everton com uma vitória de 3-1 no Goodison Park e manteve viva sua esperança de classificação para a Liga Europa, em um jogo que marcou o ressurgimento de um time até então na zona de rebaixamento. A façanha, impensável para muitos, coloca os Black Cats agora na nona posição da tabela da Premier League, a apenas quatro pontos da zona de classificação para competições europeias.

A vitória do Sunderland é ainda mais simbólica quando se considera que o clube vinha de uma sequência irregular na temporada, oscilando entre a briga contra o rebaixamento e a busca por objetivos mais ambiciosos. Para os torcedores brasileiros, que acompanham a Premier League com paixão — especialmente os fãs de jogadores como o meio-campista brasileiro João Gomes, que tem se destacado pelo clube —, a partida representa um alento. O time mostrou garra e organização, com gols de Jack Clarke, Aiden McGeady e Ross Stewart, enquanto o Everton, mesmo com um gol de Dwight McNeil, sofreu para conter o ímpeto dos visitantes. O resultado não só alimenta sonhos europeus como também reacende a crença em uma reviravolta na temporada.

Com a proximidade do fim do campeonato, o Sunderland agora mira em pelo menos mais duas vitórias para garantir uma posição entre os sete primeiros, enquanto o Everton, frustrado, vê suas chances de classificação minguarem.