Sunderland secured a point against Brentford following a late penalty from Enzo le Fee. The match concluded with a draw after a competitive encounter where both sides had periods of dominance.
The French midfielder converted from the spot after Keane Lewis-Potter was penalised for holding Wilson Isidor in the area. This late goal ensured Sunderland avoided a second defeat of the season, while Brentford maintained their unbeaten start.
First Half Dominance and VAR Drama
The opening 45 minutes saw Sunderland largely in control. Early in the game, Dan Ballard appeared to have given Sunderland the lead with a well-taken finish. However, after a lengthy VAR review, the goal was disallowed as new signing Kevin Danso was deemed to be in an offside position, obstructing Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher’s view.
Sunderland continued to press, with Le Fee striking the post shortly after the disallowed goal. Despite their significant possession and 25 touches inside Brentford’s box in the first half, Sunderland were unable to find a breakthrough, and the teams went into the interval goalless.
Brentford manager Keith Andrews made a triple substitution at half-time, bringing on Jaidon Anthony, Yehor Yarmolyuk, and Aaron Hickey for Dango Ouattara, Mamadou Sangare, and Michael Kayode. These changes appeared to shift the momentum of the game.
Second Half Turnaround and Late Equaliser
Brentford took the lead in the 57th minute. After Mikkel Damsgaard delivered a cross, Sunderland’s Nordi Mukiele got his head to the ball, but Vitaly Janelt intercepted brilliantly, sending a shot spinning into the top corner. Anthony then had a goal disallowed for Brentford, with referee Thomas Bramall ruling that the forward had kicked the ball out of goalkeeper Roefs’ hands, a decision upheld by VAR.
Sunderland’s manager, Régis le Bris, introduced Isidor in the 64th minute, which added more attacking threat. Deadline day signing Malik Fofana also made his debut as a second-half substitute, potentially bringing more creativity in future matches.
With eight minutes remaining, Isidor was held in the box by Lewis-Potter, leading to the crucial penalty. Le Fee, who had missed a penalty against Brentford last season, calmly converted this time, sending Kelleher the wrong way to secure a point for his side. This spot-kick marked Le Fee’s 12th goal involvement in the league since the start of last season, comprising six goals and six assists, making him the most productive player for Sunderland in that period.
Tactical Adjustments and Team Performances
Sunderland’s tactical flexibility was evident throughout the match. The introduction of Danso, despite only joining the club a few days prior, allowed the team to adapt its shape. Le Bris’s acumen and the players’ versatility saw Sunderland shift formations, catching Brentford off guard at various points in the game.
Brentford, despite remaining unbeaten, have now surrendered four points from winning positions in their three games this season. They had previously conceded late in a draw away at Leeds after an opening game victory over Tottenham. Their strong home record continues, as they have not lost a game on their own pitch since February.
Sunderland, on the other hand, have recovered from an opening-weekend defeat by Ipswich, having beaten Fulham before this draw. The team’s evolution continues, with an expanding squad and a more assertive ideology, as indicated by their first-half statistics against Brentford.
Sunderland are next in action on Tuesday.
Source: bbc.co.uk