Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Sunderland: De Cuyper and Hadjam give Brighton a 2–0 win at Sunderland

Chances before the break

Brighton & Hove Albion beat Sunderland 2–0 on October 10 after a first half that ended without a goal. Roefs kept the visitors out early, saving Gomez’s one-on-one chance after a Danso giveaway. Ayari then sent a bouncing shot wide from the edge of the area.

Roefs also tipped De Cuyper’s inswinging corner over. At the other end, Sunderland registered its first shot on target when Verbruggen saved Mukiele’s long-range effort in the 39th minute. Before halftime, Struijk headed a Gross free kick against the post. Fofana came on for the injured Meunier during the half.

De Cuyper breaks the tie

Brighton went ahead in the second half through De Cuyper. Gomez flicked the ball on to Gross, who found De Cuyper on the overlap. De Cuyper finished at the near post to turn a level match into a Brighton lead.

A dismissal and Sunderland’s response

Struijk was then sent off after a VAR review for denying Isidor an obvious goal-scoring opportunity outside the box. Brighton brought on Dunk as it reorganized. Sunderland had chances to respond: Verbruggen saved Xhaka’s resulting free kick, and Fofana later cut in from the left and shot directly at the goalkeeper.

Hadjam seals the result

With 12 minutes left, Groß took possession from Xhaka and tried a shot from inside his own half, sending it just outside the right post. Brighton’s second goal came in stoppage time. Rutter released substitute Hadjam on the left, and Hadjam finished with his right foot toward the far post to complete the 2–0 win.