In a tense, attritional encounter at the Stadium of Light, substitute Wilson Isidor proved the difference-maker, netting the decisive 75th-minute strike to hand Sunderland their maiden Premier League triumph of the campaign at Fulham’s expense. Introduced in the 64th minute, the Haitian international immediately injected energy into a contest that had largely been defined by […]
In a tense, attritional encounter at the Stadium of Light, substitute Wilson Isidor proved the difference-maker, netting the decisive 75th-minute strike to hand Sunderland their maiden Premier League triumph of the campaign at Fulham’s expense.
Introduced in the 64th minute, the Haitian international immediately injected energy into a contest that had largely been defined by stalemate and few genuine scoring opportunities. Isidor came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock shortly after his arrival, finding himself unmarked in the heart of the box after neat interplay from Granit Xhaka and Enzo Le Fee, only to see his effort cannon back off the base of the left upright.
The striker, who featured for Haiti at this summer’s World Cup, made no mistake when his second chance arrived a quarter of an hour from time. Fellow replacement Habib Diarra engineered the opener with a blistering surge down the right flank, driving a low cross that Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno could only parry into the path of Isidor, who gleefully bundled the ball home from close range.
The visitors, managed by new head coach Alvaro Arbeloa, turned in a flat display and rarely threatened a well-drilled Sunderland rearguard. The Black Cats’ defence stood resolute, marshalling the Cottagers with discipline and industry to ensure that the opposition did not register a single shot on target over the 90 minutes.
The result extends Fulham’s miserable start to the season, leaving them with back-to-back defeats under their new Spanish boss, while Sunderland’s victory provides an early-season boost after their opening-weekend disappointment.
