Sunderland claimed a shock 1-0 win over Chelsea at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, with Enzo Le Fee’s first-half penalty enough to beat a Blues side whose shaky league form continued into the international break.
Le Fee converted from the spot in the first half, and Sunderland held on for a famous victory that lifts them off the bottom of the table — to 19th — while Chelsea’s inconsistent start to the season took another damaging hit, according to Sportradar and AllSports. Chelsea, fourth before kick-off on 16 points, missed the chance to keep pace with the sides above them.
It was Sunderland’s second win of the season, and a result that will be celebrated long into the international break on Wearside.
A penalty that changed the game
The decisive moment came in the first half, when Le Fee stepped up and converted the penalty that separated the sides. Chelsea, who had beaten Manchester United 2-0 on October 31 and drawn 1-1 with Liverpool on October 28, were expected to win comfortably against a side propping up the table.
Instead, they ran into a Sunderland side who defended with discipline and organisation, and who took their chance when it came. The Black Cats’ home crowd made the Stadium of Light a difficult place for the visitors, and Chelsea never found the rhythm that has made them so dangerous on their best days.
Chelsea’s defeat continues a pattern: impressive results against the big sides, frustrating failures against the teams they are expected to beat. It is the kind of inconsistency that costs teams a place in the top four.
The table after Matchweek 10
Sunderland’s win moves them up to 19th, above Crystal Palace, who drop to bottom after their 3-1 defeat to Liverpool. Chelsea stay fourth but have now lost ground on the leaders, with Arsenal six points clear at the top after the weekend’s results.
For Sunderland, the three points are precious. They had just one win all season before Sunday, and beating Chelsea — one of the division’s best sides on paper — is the kind of result that can change the mood around a club.
What comes next
Chelsea go into the international break with questions to answer about their consistency, and their manager will spend the fortnight working out why his side can beat United and draw with Liverpool but lose to the team at the bottom. Sunderland, meanwhile, will return after the break believing they can climb out of the bottom three — and with a win over Chelsea to prove they belong at this level.
Read more: Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 3-1 to climb into top four · Dorgu and Zirkzee rescue Man Utd in 4-4 Villa thriller
