SUNDERLAND made an impressive comeback to the Premier League, defeating West Ham United 3-0 to kick off the new season.
Playing in the Premier League for the first time in more than eight years, the Black Cats were at ease in their new surroundings, with some of the club’s summer additions having an immediate impact at the Stadium of Light.
Finally, three of Sunderland’s players from previous season ensured that the new season began on a high note.
Eliezer Mayenda began the scoring with a clever header, Dan Ballard doubled the lead with another powerful header, and second-half substitute Wilson Isidor added the final goal in stoppage time.
It was a stunning return to the top flight, and one that Sunderland fans will remember for a long time.
Hello, Big Man. What’s your name? Eliezer Mayenda, of course. The Spaniard became a cult hero as Sunderland gained promotion last season, with his best moment coming at Wembley Stadium, where he leveled the score in the play-off final with a spectacular finish.
Given that he was fighting to get a game for Hibernian a little over a year ago, could the 20-year-old handle the transition to the Premier League? Shortly after the hour mark, he scored his first top-flight goal with a fantastic header.
There was still a lot for Mayenda to do when Omar Alderete sent in a cross from the left, but after slipping past his man, the striker directed a wonderful header into the far corner.
While Sunderland’s attacking options have been improved by the loan signing of Marc Guiu from Chelsea, if the Black Cats are to thrive this season, Mayenda and Isidor, who came on as a second-half replacement, will almost surely need to score on a regular basis.
Mayenda is up and running, as is Isidor, who scored in the second minute of stoppage time. Chemsdine Talbi set the substitute free down the left, and after stepping into the corner of the area, Isidor curled a calm low finish into the far corner.
MIDFIELD MASTERY
Sunderland’s midfield trio consisted of three summer recruits, with Granit Xhaka sandwiched between Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra. All three impressed as they settled into life in the Premier League.
Xhaka performed precisely what was expected of him: he sat deep, picked up the ball from his center-backs, and patiently controlled the tempo of Sunderland’s attacking play.
Sadiki was more active and hardworking, scurrying around to shut down opponents and break up West Ham attacks, whilst Diarra, who almost won Man of the Match, was the player attempting to break into the West Ham box and threaten the opposition goal.
The summer acquisition from Strasbourg nearly opened the score after six minutes, picking up Mayenda’s pass and firing in a shot that Mads Hermansen saved brilliantly, and his positive running was a significant aspect of Sunderland’s forward play throughout the afternoon. He came close again at the hour mark, firing barely over.
While Enzo Le Fee hopes to break into the starting lineup at some point, Regis Le Bris’ current midfield trio works nicely together. As a centralized entity, they appear capable of delivering a little bit of everything.
INJURY BLOW
Jenson Seelt certainly deserves some good luck with injuries. The Dutch defender has been plagued by injuries since joining Sunderland in the summer of 2023, missing more than a year after tearing his ACL.
So it was especially disconcerting to see Seelt leave the field in obvious pain at the start of the second half, following a period of therapy on his knee and lower body. On a day of almost unbounded optimism, Seelt’s latest injury setback was the sole disappointment.
The 22-year-old fell awkwardly after being bumped in the air while leaping to win a header, but he attempted to continue after receiving treatment from Sunderland’s medical team and a brief session of running on the touchline.
Within two seconds of returning to the field, however, he was forced to declare defeat as he collapsed to the ground, his ability to move freely severely hindered. While his replacement, Omar Alderete, will soon be joined by another new defensive addition, Nordi Mukiele, who is on the verge of completing a permanent move from Paris Saint-Germain, all Sunderland fans will be hoping Seelt has not suffered another significant setback.
A WEARSIDE WELCOME
After more than eight years away, Sunderland’s return to Premier League football was always going to be an emotional occasion.
Unsurprisingly, the build-up to today’s game did not disappoint. The ‘Dance of the Knights’ began to ring around the Stadium of Light, and there was a palpable sense of expectancy.
The erection of a massive banner at the front of the Roker End depicting the death of the Lambton Worm with the words “The man who wins is the man who believes he can” was the high point of the pre-match celebrations. After waited so long for this moment, the home fans certainly wanted to make sure the players on the field understood how much this meant to the entire Wearside community.
When Mayenda started the scoring, the volume level surged, and it rose again when Ballard headed in his team’s second goal. It may not have been as euphoric as the defender’s headed winner against Coventry in May, but it was close.
By the time Isidor completed the scoring, it really was party time. “We’re having fun and taking the p*** – we’re top of the league with Regis Le Bris.” Who would have believed that when Sunderland was losing to League One teams like Cheltenham and Shrewsbury?
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