Brian Brobbey struck in dramatic fashion deep into stoppage time as Sunderland completed a stunning derby double over Newcastle United with a 2-1 comeback victory at St James’ Park.
Newcastle had taken control early, with Anthony Gordon finishing confidently after capitalising on a defensive error just 10 minutes into the contest.
The hosts, still reeling from their midweek Champions League exit in Barcelona, looked determined to respond to their earlier derby loss in December.
However, Sunderland refused to back down. The visitors, despite being hit by injuries, showed resilience and were rewarded shortly after the break.
Chemsdine Talbi reacted quickest inside the box to fire home the equaliser after a chaotic goalmouth scramble involving Brian Brobbey and Dan Burn.
The game then opened up, with both sides creating chances. Aaron Ramsdale produced key saves to keep Newcastle level, while Melker Ellborg was also called into action at the other end as the intensity of the derby grew.
Newcastle thought they had found a late winner when Malick Thiaw bundled the ball into the net, but the effort was ruled out for a foul on Ellborg. That decision proved crucial.
Moments later, Sunderland delivered the decisive blow. Substitute Enzo Le Fée’s delivery caused problems in the box, and after Ramsdale failed to deal cleanly with it, Brobbey was perfectly placed to poke home from close range in the 90th minute.
The victory not only sealed a memorable league double for Sunderland over their fierce rivals, but also boosted their push for European qualification in an impressive return to the Premier League.
For Newcastle, the defeat marked another setback in a difficult run, leaving their continental ambitions hanging by a thread.
