OneFootball
Andrew Thompson·24 May 2026
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Andrew Thompson·24 May 2026
Sunderland's unlikely push for Europe continues on the final day as the Black Cats struck first against visiting Chelsea.
After returning to the top flight of English football for the first time in nine seasons, Regis Le Bris' outfit defied all logic every step of the way, standing tall against the best of the Premier League across a brilliant 2025/26 campaign.
A chance to secure Europa Conference League football next season remained a possibility coming into today's clash against the Blues, who are also under threat of missing out on their own continental campaign next term.
For Sunderland, it was an unexpected face that grabbed the opening strike in the 25th minute, when Trai Hume sent home support into rapture at the Stadium of Light.
With that, Sunderland may also defy the odds, coming in as the lowest-placed team in the table that can still finish in the top eight, with beating Chelsea as a prerequisite.
Can they pull off an unlikely Cinderella finish to the season?!
📸 George Wood - 2026 Getty Images







































