Sunderland’s seventh seals Europe as Stadium of Light rediscovers its magic | OneFootball

Sunderland sealed seventh place and Europa League football by beating Chelsea on Sunday, and the Stadium of Light drank it in. An afternoon of noise and nerve ended with joy.

Five minutes into added time, after a clash of heads, Granit Xhaka headed to the dugout for clarity. According to Sunderland Echo, Michael Proctor relayed the situation and Régis Le Bris overheard, Sunderland were seventh. The clock crawled to 112 before the whistle, then they could only wait.

Players huddled round a phone, the 4G stubborn, before realising it was done. Then came the red haze, the smoke, the tears and that familiar singalong.

It felt like the old days, yet this was also vindication. Fans lined the streets, kept faith through a year without a home win, through 72 minutes at Accrington before abandonment, through tears on live TV. The stories of Phillips, Quinn, Summerbee and Schwarz no longer feel distant.

Nordi Mukiele flew into tackles, Enzo Le Fée mixed silk and steel, defenders bounced off Brian Brobbey. Xhaka hinted this was only the start. For two decades the class of 2000 set the standard, and while the stakes were lower for Chelsea here, that old edge returned.

Europe will bring bumps and flat afternoons, and that is fine. Le Bris and his players have put Wearside back on the continent and reminded a club and city what it can be, 24 May felt like Sunderland Day.

Source: Sunderland Echo