Highlights
Match report
Looking to bounce back after losing 2-0 to Burnley in the PL and crashing out of the EFL Cup to third-tier Huddersfield Town, Sunderland made a bright start in front of their home fans.
There were appeals for a handball after a corner caused havoc in the Brentford box, but nothing came of it as the Bees responded with a promising moment of their own when Kevin Schade glanced a header wide.
The visitors thought they’d stolen a lead midway through the first half, but Dango Ouattara was denied a second goal in as many PL games, narrowly straying offside before racing through and slotting home.
Only one side had found the net in each of Sunderland’s last five regulation home league encounters, suggesting a first goal here could prove pivotal, yet neither team was able to break the deadlock in an engaging first period lacking in clear-cut chances.
With the game still goalless heading towards the hour mark, Brentford were handed a golden opportunity from the spot after Reinildo Mandava hauled down Nathan Collins in the box.
However, having converted an opening weekend penalty, Igor Thiago was not the man to step up, instead watching on as Schade had his spot-kick saved by Robin Roefs.
A back-and-forth contest remained on a knife-edge after Habib Diarra directed a header wide for Sunderland, but there was finally a breakthrough in the 77th minute courtesy of Thiago, who headed Frank Onyeka’s cross into the ground and in off the crossbar to put the visitors ahead.
There had been a goal after the 80th minute in each of Sunderland’s three games this season, and they desperately needed one here to salvage something.
Thankfully for the hosts, a foul from Rico Henry handed them an 81st-minute penalty, which Enzo Le Fée converted to level the match.
An exciting finale unfolded, with Sunderland snatching a last-gasp winner through Isidor, who lifted the Stadium of Light with a close-range header from Granit Xhaka’s cross.
Having won each of their last eight PL games against promoted sides, Brentford fans will be gutted at the manner of the defeat in what was only their third H2H fixture this century.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland)
