Late strikes from Enzo Le Fée and Wilson Isidor inspired Sunderland to a 3-1 comeback victory over Everton, boosting their hopes of European qualification while spoiling Everton captain Seamus Coleman’s emotional final appearance at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Everton manager David Moyes saw his side collapse after leading at half-time, with Sunderland’s second-half surge lifting them above the Toffees into ninth place and keeping alive a potential UEFA Conference League route.
Everton had gone ahead just before the break when on-loan midfielder Merlin Röhl’s deflected effort wrong-footed goalkeeper Robin Roefs in a dull first half that offered little attacking quality from either side.
But the contest changed after the interval as Sunderland grew into the game and punished Everton’s lack of control.
The visitors were handed their equaliser after Jake O’Brien’s mistake allowed Le Fée to pounce on a loose ball and release Brian Brobbey, who held off James Tarkowski before finishing clinically past Jordan Pickford.
Le Fée, who had already enjoyed success at the same ground earlier in the season, was central again as Sunderland turned the game on its head.
He then delivered the decisive moment, with Iliman Ndiaye slow to close him down on the edge of the box, allowing the French midfielder to finish sharply and complete the turnaround.
Wilson Isidor added further gloss in stoppage time, powering home after Sunderland again exposed Everton’s defensive lapses.
Everton did come close to a response when Jake O’Brien’s header was dramatically kept out by Roefs, but frustration grew as the match slipped away.
The late introduction of Seamus Coleman, in what was his final home appearance after 17 years at the club, drew the loudest ovation of the afternoon in an otherwise subdued stadium, with large sections of seats empty as the final whistle confirmed a damaging defeat.
