Sunderland 1-1 Everton

The final match of the game week took place on Monday between Sunderland and Everton and a second half stunner from Granit Xhaka cancelled out an equally beautiful Iliman Ndiaye goal scored in the first half.

Regis Le Bris named the same XI that started against Chelsea in Sunderland’s shock victory at Stamford Bridge but it was a 3-4-3 yesterday as opposed to the 5-4-1 Vs Chelsea. David Moyes meanwhile named one change from Everton’s 3-0 loss to Tottenham last time out, Beto was replaced by Thierno Barry.

The match was immediately set at a high pace, with Everton creating the first significant chance just seconds after kickoff. James Garner struck a fierce effort from outside the box that narrowly missed the post, signalling Everton’s early intent. This momentum continued for the away side and it culminated in the opening goal in the 15th minute.

Iliman Ndiaye produced a moment of individual brilliance, weaving past three Sunderland defenders before curling a left-footed shot into the bottom corner of the net, giving Everton a 1-0 lead.

The goal did little to slow the game’s fast-paced, physical nature. In the 17th and 18th minutes, two Sunderland players were booked in quick succession, Noah Sadiki and Nordi Mukiele. Mukiele’s card came as a result of a foul on the dangerous Jack Grealish. Everton continued to press their advantage, sensing an opportunity to double their lead and establish control.

The next ten minutes saw two massive near misses that David Moyes’ side would ultimately rue. In the 22nd minute, Jack Grealish hit the woodwork, unleashing a 20-yard shot that rattled the foot of the left post. This was followed by arguably the biggest miss of the game in the 28th minute. Thierno Barry squandered a golden chance from just six yards out after a superb cross from Grealish, blazing the ball over the crossbar. These misses proved to be a pivotal turning point, preventing Everton from gaining a comfortable cushion.

Sunderland, having survived the initial onslaught and the shock of Barry’s miss, began to find their footing as the first half neared its conclusion. Their first attempts were however wayward, such as Geertruida’s volley from distance in the 36th minute that sailed too high. Three minutes later, Sunderland created a better opening when Wilson Isidor received the ball in the box, but he was quickly denied by a crucial block from Everton’s Michael Keane. Everton took their 1-0 lead into the break

The second half began with a moment of instant drama that levelled the scoreline. Just 42 seconds after the restart, Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka equalised with his first Premier League goal of the season. His low 20-yard strike took a wicked deflection off the outstretched foot of Everton’s James Tarkowski, changing the trajectory of the shot and sending it in off the underside of the crossbar past Jordan Pickford. The Stadium of Light erupted, and the dynamic of the match had fundamentally shifted.

Everton were forced into early second-half changes. In the 57th minute, Beto replaced the wasteful Thierno Barry. Five minutes later, goalscorer Iliman Ndiaye was forced off due to an apparent injury, with Dwight McNeil coming on in his place.

The momentum was now firmly with Sunderland and the Black Cats increased the pressure, testing the Everton defence with a mixture of determined runs and crosses. In the 71st minute, Wilson Isidor continued a rather frustrating night, firing an optimistic shot from a tight angle over the bar.

The 73rd minute brought a major Shot Handball Appeal against Everton. Sunderland appealed vehemently for a penalty when Noah Sadiki’s cross struck the arm of Michael Keane. Following a review however, VAR stuck with the on-field decision, declining to award the penalty.

Sunderland’s relentless pressure continued. In the 77th minute, a low cross from Nordi Mukiele found Wilson Isidor at the near post, but the forward missed his kick in what was a clear opportunity.

The hosts came even closer in the 81st minute. Hume forced a save from Jordan Pickford with a header, who pushed the ball behind for a corner. From the resulting set-piece, Granit Xhaka whipped in a cross that found Nordi Mukiele, who sent his diving header just over the crossbar.

Both managers looked to the bench to find a late winner. Sunderland made a double change in the 83rd minute, bringing on Chemsdine Talbi and Brian Brobbey for Wilson Isidor and Bertrand Traore. Everton responded a minute later with a double substitution of their own, introducing Carlos Alcaraz and Tim Iroegbunam for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jake O’Brien.

Everton finally mustered a shot on target in the 85th minute, their first clear attempt in a long period. Vitalii Mykolenko pounced on a loose pass from Xhaka and struck a long-range effort that forced a diving save from Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs.

The match’s final great chance arrived deep into added time. In the 94th minute, Sunderland captain Xhaka committed a defensive error that was intercepted by Grealish, who instantly threaded the ball to substitute Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz had a clear two-on-one opportunity but inexplicably delayed his pass back and was ultimately dispossessed, squandering a huge late winning opportunity for Everton. To compound his late error, Alcaraz was booked for a foul a minute later. The whistle blew shortly after, with the points shared in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.

The draw was enough to take Sunderland into the top 4 while Everton remain 14th.