Chelsea’s momentum came to an abrupt halt on Saturday evening as they fell to a heartbreaking 2–1 defeat against Sunderland, who scored deep into stoppage time at the Stadium of Light. Despite controlling long spells of the game, the Blues once again paid the price for missed opportunities and lapses in concentration.

The London side started brightly, dictating possession and creating early chances through Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer, but lacked the cutting edge needed to punish the home side. Nicolas Jackson eventually broke the deadlock midway through the first half with a composed finish after a fine team move, offering Chelsea the platform they needed.

However, Sunderland grew into the contest as the match wore on. The hosts equalized shortly after the restart through a well-taken effort, capitalizing on a defensive mix-up involving Thiago Silva and Axel Disasi. From that point, the game became increasingly tense, with Chelsea struggling to reassert their control in midfield.

As the clock ticked into injury time, a moment of chaos undid all of Chelsea’s earlier work. A quick counterattack caught the back line flat-footed, allowing Sunderland to snatch a dramatic winner in front of their home fans.

For Mauricio Pochettino, this will feel like a bitter setback. His side showed moments of fluid attacking play, yet their inability to maintain focus defensively continues to haunt them.

Player Ratings:

• Robert Sánchez (6/10): Could do little about either goal but distribution was shaky.

• Reece James (6.5/10): Energetic going forward but left space in behind.

• Thiago Silva (5/10): Struggled with Sunderland’s pace late on.

• Cole Palmer (7/10): Chelsea’s most inventive outlet.

• Nicolas Jackson (7/10): Took his goal well but faded after halftime.