David Moyes returned to the Stadium of Light for the first time since his departure from Sunderland eight years ago, but he had to settle for a 1-1 draw with his Everton side. The result denied him a winning return, as Granit Xhaka’s second-half equalizer canceled out a brilliant opening goal by Iliman Ndiaye.
Everton had dominated the first half, with Ndiaye’s stunning solo effort putting them ahead early. The Senegalese forward evaded three Sunderland challenges before unleashing a powerful shot that left goalkeeper Robin Roefs stunned. Everton continued to press, and Jack Grealish came close to doubling the lead with a shot that hit the post. Despite Everton’s control, Sunderland showed resilience late in the first half but failed to test Everton keeper Jordan Pickford with a shot on target.
Sunderland, known for their fighting spirit, responded quickly after the break. A minute into the second half, Xhaka’s shot from the edge of the box took a deflection off Everton’s James Tarkowski, sending the ball past Pickford to level the score. The equalizer galvanized the home side, who pressed for a winner throughout the second half.
Sunderland’s relentless pressure caused Everton to struggle to break out of their half. The home side created several chances, including a header from Dan Ballard that was scrambled clear, and a header from Nordi Mukiele that went over the bar. Even as the visitors looked to regain control, the home crowd willed Sunderland forward, sensing a potential victory. However, despite constant attacks and several nervy moments for the Everton defense, the match ended in a draw.
David Moyes, speaking after the game, reflected on the different feel at Sunderland compared to his previous tenure. He praised the club’s recovery from the dark days of relegation and their impressive rise in the Premier League. While he was disappointed not to claim all three points, he acknowledged that a draw was a fair result, given Sunderland’s second-half dominance.
The result leaves Sunderland in a solid position, continuing their promising start to life back in the Premier League. They now look ahead to a challenging match against league leaders Arsenal. Meanwhile, Everton will be content with a point, but they will need to improve their performance to secure better results moving forward.
