Swansea v Sunderland Match Report & Stats: 2-3 – Black Cats Rally for Dramatic Win

Competition | EFL Championship |
---|---|
Date | 14 December 2024 |
Teams | Swansea v Sunderland |
Final Score | Swansea 2–3 Sunderland |
Sunderland showcased their resilience with a thrilling comeback win against Swansea. Despite trailing 2-0 inside the first 20 minutes, the Black Cats stormed back to snatch all three points, led by the brilliance of Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg. Sunderland are now third in the Championship, just two points behind Leeds.
Swansea v Sunderland Match Report
The match began disastrously for Sunderland as Swansea raced into a 2-0 lead. Zan Vipotnik opened the scoring in the 5th minute, followed by Liam Cullen’s strike in the 17th. But Sunderland pulled one back through Dan Ballard's header in the 28th minute, setting the stage for a second-half fightback.
Regis Le Bris’ men equalised in the 73rd minute through Dan Neil, who capitalised on a clever assist from Bellingham. Just two minutes later, Bellingham himself sealed the comeback with a well-taken goal, assisted by 17-year-old starlet Chris Rigg.
Swansea, despite their early dominance, struggled to regain control as Sunderland’s defence and midfield locked down the game in the closing minutes. The Black Cats were slight road favorites to win this match, according to leading UK betting sites.
Key Moments
- 5' Goal – Swansea (Zan Vipotnik): A precise finish after Harry Darling's assist gave the hosts an early lead.
- 17' Goal – Swansea (Liam Cullen): A defensive lapse allowed Cullen to double the lead.
- 28' Goal – Sunderland (Dan Ballard): A towering header from a Trai Hume cross gave Sunderland hope.
- 73' Goal – Sunderland (Dan Neil): A composed strike levelled the match.
- 75' Goal – Sunderland (Jobe Bellingham): A decisive goal completed the remarkable turnaround.
Stats at a Glance
Statistic | Swansea | Sunderland |
---|---|---|
Goals | 2 | 3 |
Expected Goals (xG) | 0.90 | 1.04 |
Possession | 54% | 46% |
Shots on Target | 4 | 5 |
Big Chances | 1 | 2 |
Touches in Opposition Box | 14 | 30 |
While Swansea dominated possession early, Sunderland’s higher xG and relentless box entries showed their attacking intent, especially in the second half.
Lineups
Swansea (4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeeper: Vigouroux
- Defenders: Key, Cabango, Darling, Tymon
- Midfielders: Franco, Grimes (C), Peart-Harris, Cullen, Ronald
- Forward: Vipotnik
Sunderland (4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeeper: Patterson
- Defenders: Hume, Mepham, Ballard, Cirkin
- Midfielders: Neil (C), Bellingham, Roberts, Rigg, Mayenda
- Forward: Isidor
Pre-Match Predictions Evaluated
- Sunderland draw no bet
✅ Prediction correct. Sunderland’s remarkable comeback ensured a winning outcome. - Sunderland’s defensive resilience keeping Swansea in check
❌ Incorrect. Sunderland conceded twice early, but their recovery overshadowed this lapse. - Swansea’s struggles to convert chances continuing
✅ Correct. Despite their early goals, Swansea failed to capitalise on their control and were undone by Sunderland’s counterpunching.
Analysis
Sunderland’s ability to overcome a two-goal deficit highlights their growing maturity and tactical adaptability under Regis Le Bris. Swansea’s early promise fizzled out, reflecting their inconsistency in finishing chances and managing leads. A thrilling game that showcased Sunderland’s resilience and determination to stay in the promotion race.
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Dusan Jovanovic
Over the past ten years, Dusan has specialised in analysing and handicapping various sports leagues, including the NFL, MLB, NCAA Football, NCAA Basketball, NBA, NHL, and numerous European football leagues.