Sunderland kept alive their hopes of playing in major European competition for the first time since the 1970s as they came from behind to beat Everton 3-1 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Merlin Rohl had given the hosts a first-half lead, but Brian Brobbey, Enzo Le Fee and substitute Wilson Isidor struck after the break to complete a stunning turnaround that lifted Regis Le Bris' side above their opponents and into ninth in the Premier League.
With European football a prospect for both teams at kick-off, the contest carried real stakes, yet the opening 45 minutes were drab and littered with unforced errors. The second half belonged entirely to the visitors, who took full advantage of a passive Everton display to leapfrog their hosts and head into next Sunday's final day still chasing a European place. Everton were booed off as their winless run extended to six matches.
An afternoon framed by emotion and remembrance
Moving tributes were paid by both sets of supporters before and during the game. Bradley Lowery, the young Sunderland mascot who raised more than 1m pounds before his death in 2017, was remembered on what would have been his 15th birthday with a standing ovation as the entire stadium sang his name. Bradley's parents, Gemma and Carl, were present as guests of Everton, while a Sunderland fan and an Everton supporter cycled to the game from the Stadium of Light to raise funds for the Bradley Lowery Foundation.