Sunderland
FulhamHow did the teams perform?
Sunderland
Fulham
Match Stats
Lineup
Sunderland
76'
60' Holding
12' Replaced by N. Mukiele
39' Replaced by J. T. Bi
70' Replaced by N. Angulo
70' Replaced by B. Brobbey
71' Replaced by H. Diarra
Fulham
85'
54'
85'
41' Roughing
54'
61'
45+1' Replaced by Kevin
65' Replaced by R. Jimenez
88' Replaced by K. Tete
88' Replaced by A. Iwobi
88' Replaced by E. Smith Rowe
Premier League Standings - Premier League
| Pos | Team | MP | +/- | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Arsenal | 27 | 52-20 | 32 | 58 |
| 2 |  Manchester City | 27 | 56-25 | 31 | 56 |
| 3 |  Aston Villa | 27 | 38-28 | 10 | 51 |
| 4 |  Chelsea | 27 | 48-31 | 17 | 45 |
| 5 |  Manchester United | 26 | 47-37 | 10 | 45 |
| 6 |  Liverpool | 26 | 41-35 | 6 | 42 |
| 7 |  Brentford | 27 | 40-37 | 3 | 40 |
| 8 |  Bournemouth | 27 | 43-45 | -2 | 38 |
| 9 |  Everton | 26 | 29-30 | -1 | 37 |
| 10 |  Newcastle | 27 | 38-39 | -1 | 36 |
| 11 | Sunderland | 26 | 27-30 | -3 | 36 |
| 12 |  Brighton | 27 | 36-34 | 2 | 34 |
| 13 | Fulham | 26 | 35-40 | -5 | 34 |
| 14 |  Crystal Palace | 26 | 28-32 | -4 | 32 |
| 15 |  Leeds | 27 | 37-46 | -9 | 31 |
| 16 |  Tottenham | 26 | 36-37 | -1 | 29 |
| 17 |  Nottingham Forest | 26 | 25-38 | -13 | 27 |
| 18 |  West Ham | 27 | 32-49 | -17 | 25 |
| 19 |  Burnley | 27 | 29-52 | -23 | 19 |
| 20 |  Wolves | 27 | 18-50 | -32 | 10 |
Qualification/Relegation
- Promotion - Champions League (League phase)
- Promotion - Europa League (League phase)
- Relegation - Championship
Fulham secured a vital 3-1 Premier League away victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, driven by a decisive Raúl Jiménez double and a late strike from Alex Iwobi.
The match on February 22, 2026, saw both sides battling for mid-table supremacy. Sunderland, sitting 11th, aimed to consolidate their position. Fulham, in 13th place, looked to close the gap on their opponents.
The first half remained a tight affair with few clear-cut opportunities. Play was frequently interrupted, preventing either team from building sustained pressure. Early substitutions for Sunderland saw Nordi Mukiele enter in the 12th minute, followed by Jocelin Ta Bi in the 39th minute.
Fulham’s Raúl Jiménez received the game’s first booking in the 41st minute for a rough challenge. Despite moments of attacking intent, neither goalkeeper was truly tested during the opening period. The half-time whistle blew with the score still locked at 0-0.
The scoreless first half set the stage for a tense second period. Both managers would have delivered clear instructions, pushing their teams to find the crucial breakthrough. The contest awaited a moment of quality to ignite it.
That moment arrived in the 54th minute. Alex Iwobi, a constant threat, provided a sharp assist for Raúl Jiménez, who fired home the opening goal for Fulham. The away side’s clinical edge was immediately apparent.
Just seven minutes later, Fulham doubled their lead. Sunderland’s B. Brobbey received a yellow card in the 60th minute, conceding a penalty. Jiménez stepped up to calmly convert from the spot in the 61st minute, securing his double.
Sunderland responded by making a flurry of substitutions around the 70th minute, bringing on fresh legs to inject urgency. Their efforts paid off in the 76th minute when Enzo Le Fée converted a penalty. This goal offered a glimmer of hope for the Black Cats.
However, Fulham extinguished any comeback hopes in the 85th minute. Harry Wilson laid off a perfect pass for Alex Iwobi, who guided his shot into the net. This third goal sealed the victory for the visitors.
Fulham displayed greater efficiency, converting three of their three shots on target. Their expected goals (xG) stood at 1.83 compared to Sunderland’s 1.77. Despite Sunderland enjoying more possession at 53%, Fulham capitalized on their chances.
This decisive 3-1 win allows Fulham to leapfrog Sunderland in the Premier League standings. The result underscores Fulham’s resilience on the road and leaves Sunderland reflecting on a frustrating home defeat.
