Sunderland Come from Two Down to Beat Bournemouth

At a glance

• Amine Adli’s close-range finish and Tyler Adams’ stunning goal from the halfway line gave Bournemouth a 2-0 lead
• Enzo Le Fee’s penalty and Bertrand Traore’s low strike put Sunderland level
• Substitute Brian Brobbey headed in Le Fee’s 69th-minute corner to complete the Black Cats’ turnaround
• Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook was shown a 96th-minute red card for elbowing Noah Sadiki
• Player ratings

A fired-up Sunderland came from two goals down to beat Bournemouth 3-2 in torrential rain and go fourth in the Premier League table.

Bournemouth took the lead in the seventh minute through Amine Adli who scored his first goal for the club from close range after Evanilson had struck Antoine Semenyo’s low cross against the post.

The visitors added a second eight minutes later in stunning circumstances as Tyler Adams successfully lobbed Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs from inside the centre circle.

But Sunderland hit back in the 30th minute when Alex Scott was adjudged to have caught Reinildo in the area and Enzo Le Fee dispatched the resulting penalty kick.

Seconds after the restart, Sunderland levelled with Bertrand Traore’s low driven strike that caught out Bournemouth keeper Djordje Petrovic at his near post.

Moments later Bournemouth had a goal disallowed when Evanilson was flagged for offside after he tapped in Semenyo’s cross which looked to be deflecting into the bottom corner.

Evanilson was made to pay for his error as Sunderland completed their turnaround in the 69th minute through substitute Brian Brobbey who headed in Le Fee’s corner.

Bournemouth pushed for a late equaliser and even hit the crossbar through Marcus Tavernier’s powerful effort from the edge of the box.

Cherries substitute Lewis Cook was shown a straight red card in the 96th minute for catching Sunderland’s Noah Sadiki with his elbow as the hosts held on to end their three-match winless run.

Sunderland analysis: Brobbey caps off impressive fightback

For the very first time, Sunderland won a Premier League game having been two goals down.

A Sunderland fightback seemed unlikely when the Black Cats were behind and being outplayed within 15 minutes.

But the hosts were gifted a way back into the game when Bournemouth midfielder Scott was adjudged to have taken out Reinildo from behind as the full-back was receiving a pass just inside the area.

By avoiding defeat, Sunderland continued their unbeaten record at home this season and bounced back from their late 1-0 loss away to Fulham last weekend.

Sunderland’s home record is so strong they have already collected more points at Stadium of Light this campaign (15) than they did in the whole of their last campaign in the top flight (14 points in 2016-17).

Brian Brobbey, who came on in the 63rd minute, was the promoted side’s hero as he nodded in just his second goal for the club since joining from Ajax in the summer, having also scored in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal earlier this month.

Bournemouth analysis: Poor discipline hampers visitors

Bournemouth will see this match as a huge missed opportunity.

The Cherries, who could have gone fourth with a win, have now lost three of their past four matches in the top flight.

Midfielder Cook is likely to miss his side’s next three matches having been sent off for violent conduct.

Marcos Senesi and David Brooks will also be suspended for Bournemouth’s next game after they both picked up their fifth yellow cards of the season.

Even manager Andoni Iraola was booked for dissent midway through the second half.

Two positive notes for the visitors were the return of playmaker Semenyo after a game away and Adams’ strike from 43.3 metres out – the longest ranged Premier League goal of this season.

What’s next for these sides?

Sunderland are away to Liverpool in the Premier League on Wednesday (20:15 GMT).

Bournemouth host Everton on Tuesday (19:30 GMT) in the same competition.

Average rating8.42

Source: BBC