Brian Brobbey was the hero as Sunderland produced an inspired turnaround to stun 10-man AFC Bournemouth 3-2 in a five-goal thriller at the Stadium of Light.
The Cherries made a flying start to lead 2-0 inside the opening 15 minutes, as Amine Adli’s first Bournemouth goal was followed by a sublime strike from Tyler Adams, who lobbed a helpless Robin Roefs from the edge of the centre circle.
Enzo Le Fee’s penalty reduced the deficit before Bertrand Traore levelled right at the start of the second half. Substitute Brobbey headed in what proved to be the winner 21 minutes from time.
Sunderland had a late scare when Marcus Tavernier rattled the crossbar, and there was more late drama as Lewis Cook was sent off for violent conduct in stoppage time.
The Black Cats held out for all three points, continuing their unbeaten start at home and moving fourth in the Premier League table, while Bournemouth drop to ninth, with their winless streak extending to four games.
How the match unfolded
The Cherries broke through in the seventh minute; Roefs diverted Evanilson’s close-range effort on to the post, but Adli reacted quickest to tuck home the rebound.
The visitors doubled their lead in spectacular fashion eight minutes later, as Adams floated a delicious long-range attempt over the head of a backtracking Roefs. At 43.3 metres it is the longest goal of the season so far.
Watch: Adams' incredible goal
Sunderland gave themselves hope on the half-hour mark, with Le Fee thumping his penalty into the roof of the net after Alex Scott had fouled Reinildo Mandava.
And they were level just 51 seconds after the break when Traore drilled past Djordje Petrovic at his near post. Moments later, Bournemouth saw a goal chalked off, as Evanilson was offside when he tucked home a deflected cross that might have gone in without his intervention.
Instead, it was Sunderland who stole all three points when, six minutes after coming on, Brobbey guided home Le Fee’s corner to complete a remarkable turnaround.
Sunderland had to hold on somewhat as Tavernier rattled the goal frame, but Bournemouth’s comeback hopes fizzled out after Cook was sent off for elbowing Noah Sadiki.
Comeback kings Sunderland snatch three points
Sunderland's dream return to the Premier League is back on track, having endured something of a reality check in recent weeks.
When the Black Cats last welcomed Bournemouth in the Premier League in April 2017, they suffered a 1-0 defeat to confirm their relegation to the Championship. Eight years later, a victory in the same fixture has lifted them back into the top four.
Things did not look promising when they fell 2-0 behind after 15 minutes. Roefs, one of the standout goalkeepers in the Premier League this season, was left red-faced when sloppy play from the hosts led to Adams lobbing him from over 43 metres out.
Nevertheless, an impressive response saw them back on level terms within a minute of the second half. Substitute Brobbey then made another telling impact off the bench to secure the much-needed victory.
Sunderland have now earned 15 points this season at the Stadium of Light, which has quickly become a fortress, already bettering their tally for the entire 2016/17 campaign.
This turnaround provides them with a timely boost ahead of back-to-back away matches at Liverpool and Manchester City, before they welcome Newcastle United for their eagerly anticipated Tyne-Wear derby on 14 December.
Cherries picked off in a game of two halves
That is now five defeats in eight Premier League away games for Bournemouth, including each of their last three.
Andoni Iraola’s side would not have been preparing for that after making such a positive start. They are known for being quick off the mark, but Sunderland were not prepared for the speed with which the visitors came out.
Adams’ strike was one to remember, and the omens appeared promising, with Bournemouth having avoided defeat in their previous 10 league games when scoring first.
However, Sunderland had clearly not read the script, and a sloppy challenge from Scott presented the Black Cats with a route back into the contest.
The Cherries were then undone by two set-pieces after the break, and their frustration boiled over in stoppage time. It culminated in Cook – on as a half-time substitute for Scott – receiving his marching orders.
Bournemouth will subsequently have to make do without him in their back-to-back home games against Everton and Chelsea, during which they will be desperate to put their recent struggles behind them.
Club reports
Sunderland report | Bournemouth report
What the managers said
Regis Le Bris: "To come from two-nil down and win this game is a big achievement. It shows once again that this team has a strong character - they are never beaten and they want to fight.
“Many teams would give up after going two down, but that wasn’t the case for us today. It was important to be clinical in the box, and we were. It was just a case of trying to change the dynamic, and we did it."
Andoni Iraola: "I'm disappointed. It is not a good result for us. We haven't dealt well with set-plays and they have punished us. We knew it would be difficult. We played quite well, but we've not dealt with the main dangers. They have punished us."
Next PL fixtures
Key facts
This was the first time Sunderland have ever come from 2+ goals down to win a Premier League game, with this the 188th time they have trailed by 2+ goals in a game in the competition (D10 L177).
Adams’ strike from 43.3 metres out for Bournemouth was the longest range Premier League goal since Moises Caicedo netted from 50.5 metres against Bournemouth in May 2024.
All three of Brobbey’s Premier League goals (two) and assists (one) this season have either put Sunderland in the lead (two) or drawn them level (one), coming off the bench in all three of those matches.
Adli became Bournemouth’s 10th different goalscorer in the Premier League this season (excl. own goals), with only Brighton (12), Arsenal and Chelsea (11 each) having more (before the late games).