Sunderland move into European contention with impressive win at Everton

[p]With this mid-table duo seeing their European chances fade due to winless runs in recent weeks, it perhaps wasn’t a surprise to see a distinct lack of quality in the early stages.[/p][p]Neither side looked particularly dangerous going forward, but the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sunderland/WSzc94ws/"]Black Cats[/a] were bossing possession, leaving the home crowd seething at the hosts’ lack of intensity.[/p][p]The first shot on target of the contest arrived on the 35-minute mark when a harmless long-range effort from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/garner-james/zctP50uI/"]James Garner[/a] was pouched by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/roefs-robin/Ao7TtUZn/"]Robin Roefs[/a], but the Dutch stopper was soon forced into more meaningful action, turning [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tarkowski-james/Mu9cCtLo/"]James Tarkowski[/a]’s flicked header at the near post wide and out for a corner.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/moyes-david/hUGEt9yf/"]David Moyes[/a]’ men turned up the heat as half time approached, and moments after Beto failed to divert [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dewsbury-hall-kiernan/p2OLMO3D/"]Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall[/a]’s cross on target, they hit the front in fortuitous circumstances.[/p][image alt="Momemtum" id="63e3c5fe-65cb-49bc-b2f4-b3b86459094c" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="2c775f0d-dff5-46eb-bfdf-a24c783ee039" original-width="1920" original-height="1080" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rohl-merlin/b7FJ7Yb9/"]Merlin Röhl[/a] cut in from the right and unleashed a low strike that took a wicked deflection off [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/xhaka-granit/QBHCDKff/"]Granit Xhaka[/a] on its way in, with the German’s first goal in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/everton/KluSTr9s/"]Everton[/a] colours ensuring the Toffees led a ninth PL home game at half time this term – only four teams have done so more often.[/b][/p][p]Everton had lost just one of the prior eight, but a slow start to the second period - combined with an increase in intensity from the visitors - meant anxiety levels were rising around the Hill Dickinson.[/p][p][b]And with good reason, as moments after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pickford-jordan/SKTJdUtH/"]Jordan Pickford[/a] tipped [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hume-trai/CfLIw4XG/"]Trai Hume[/a]’s wayward cross over the bar, a dreadful touch from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/o-brien-jake/Sfgwnrmh/"]Jake O’Brien[/a] landed at the feet of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/le-fee-enzo/hC5yfF2A/"]Enzo Le Fée[/a], who slotted in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/brobbey-brian/pfAvgQUT/"]Brian Brobbey[/a] to thunder in his seventh Sunderland goal, with this the first to arrive before the hour mark.[/b][/p][p]Chances were at a premium after the equaliser, but with Everton having conceded 2+ goals in each of their prior five winless games, their lack of conviction eventually cost them.[/p][p][b]An intricate Sunderland move culminated in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rigg-chris/lUGYPTIg/"]Chris Rigg[/a] teeing up Le Fée to tuck home the winner despite Pickford getting a hand to it.[/b][/p][p]O’Brien’s nightmare afternoon continued when his point-blank header was kept out by Roefs’ shoulder, before he was put out of his misery and replaced by departing Everton captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/coleman-seamus/zq8Uz4Ed/"]Séamus Coleman[/a], who bows out as the club’s all-time appearance maker in the PL. [/p][image alt="Match stats" id="8ea3dbe9-4a38-46a5-824c-d02ca03d4dc6" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="e914cbb6-f2b2-4e1b-9311-fc663be0a035" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]He could only watch on as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/diarra-habib/nFakLd1E/"]Habib Diarra[/a]’s low cross was left untouched as it drifted along the six-yard line to the back post, where [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/isidor-wilson/veOg2tx3/"]Wilson Isidor[/a] was waiting to end the contest.[/b][/p][p]Everton, therefore, failed to win their final home league match for just the third time in 11 seasons, with a paltry return of one victory in six matches against the promoted sides largely responsible for their deficit to the top eight, which stands at three points.[/p][p]Sunderland’s first win in five leapfrogs them above their hosts and Chelsea, the latter of which they face on what’s shaping up to be an intriguing final day. [/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/le-fee-enzo/hC5yfF2A/"]Enzo Le Fée[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sunderland/WSzc94ws/"]Sunderland[/a])[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/everton-KluSTr9s/sunderland-WSzc94ws/?mid=jeflmQpB"]Get all the match stats here with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]