Sunderland struck twice late to overturn Igor Thiago’s opener and beat Brentford 2-1 at a raucous Stadium of Light. Robin Roefs had earlier preserved parity by saving Kevin Schade’s penalty, before Enzo Le Fée equalised from the spot. Substitute Wilson Isidor rose in stoppage time to nod in Granit Xhaka’s cross, with Caoimhín Kelleher getting a touch but unable to keep it out.
The victory lifts Sunderland to sixth, with two wins from their opening three matches on their return to the Premier League. It is only the second time they have won their first two home games in the competition, the other coming in 2001-02, and the late salvo underlined the perseverance that ultimately separated two well-organised sides.
Fine margins: VAR reprieve and a tale of two penalties
In a conservative first half Brentford looked the likelier team to land the first blow. Dango Ouattara thought he had done just that after cushioning a clever reverse pass from Nathan Collins and gliding between Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete before finishing beyond Roefs, only for VAR to show he had been fractionally offside.