Ten-man Brighton beat Sunderland to extend winning run and hold third

Brighton stay third after resilient Stadium of Light win

Brighton extended their Premier League winning streak to three matches with a 2-0 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on October 10, despite playing the final half-hour with 10 men. The result kept Fabian Hürzeler’s side third in the table, on 13 points, while Sunderland remained on four.

After a goalless first half, Maxim De Cuyper put the visitors ahead in the 53rd minute. Pascal Gross picked him out in space after Sunderland failed to clear a long throw, and De Cuyper drove a low finish past Robin Roefs.

The contest shifted four minutes later when Pascal Struijk was shown a straight red card. Referee Bramall sent off the Brighton defender after a VAR review found he had brought down Wilson Isidor as the Sunderland striker broke through on goal.

Hadjam seals the points on the counter

Sunderland had threatened before the break: Isidor’s effort struck the outside of the post, while an unmarked Struijk headed a Gross free-kick against the woodwork at the other end. But the hosts could not make their numerical advantage count, and Brighton remained difficult to break down.

Substitute Jaouen Hadjam settled the match in the third minute of stoppage time. Brighton broke forward through fellow substitute Georginio Rutter, who held the ball up before finding Hadjam in the box. The Algerian finished from a tight angle into the bottom-right corner.

Gross also provided the assist for De Cuyper’s opener, extending his run of assists to three consecutive top-flight matches. The win followed Brighton’s 3-0 home victory over Arsenal before the international break and gave them a third straight league clean sheet. Sunderland, with one Premier League win so far this season, now turn their attention to a Europa League meeting with Torreense.