Sunderland fight back to stun Everton and boost top-eight hopes

May 17, 2026

Sunderland staged a second-half fightback to beat Everton 3-1 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and boost their hopes of European qualification by climbing to ninth in the Premier League.

Everton were on course to boost their own chances of a top-eight finish when Merlin Rohl scored his first goal for the club via a deflection in the first half but they ended up being booed off by the home fans after the visitors completed a stunning turnaround.

Brian Brobbey scored their 59th-minute equaliser, finishing emphatically at the near post after showing pace and strength to hold off James Tarkowski following a misplaced pass by Jake O’Brien.

Enzo Le Fee put Regis Le Bris’s side ahead when he turned home from close range after being teed up by Chris Rigg in the 81st minute, with Wilson Isidor adding a stoppage-time third when he finished brilliantly from fellow substitute Habib Diarra’s low cross.

In between Sunderland’s second and third goals, O’Brien missed a glorious chance to level for Everton when he sent a close-range header too close to Robin Roefs from Tyrique George’s cross.

The victory puts Sunderland just one point behind Brentford, who occupy eighth-place following a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, meaning the newly-promoted Black Cats will host 10th-placed Chelsea on the final day in a potential European shootout.

Everton, meanwhile, will head to Tottenham in their final fixture knowing their top-eight hopes are all but over after their fans vented their frustration at a defeat which leaves the Toffees three points off eighth place in 11th, without a win in six games.