Aston Villa survived a dramatic late rally from Sunderland to claim a thrilling 4-3 victory at Villa Park, with Tammy Abraham's stoppage-time winner sealing an entertaining Premier League encounter.
Villa entered the match sitting fourth in the Premier League table with 55 points from 32 games. Sunderland, occupying 11th place with 46 points, arrived at Villa Park seeking to build on recent form that included two wins in their last five matches. Both teams had contrasting trajectories, with Villa looking to maintain their top-four push while Sunderland aimed to climb the table.
The home side exploded out of the blocks. Ollie Watkins fired Villa ahead in just the second minute, catching Sunderland's defense off guard with a clinical finish. However, Sunderland responded immediately. Chris Rigg equalized in the ninth minute, showing resilience and keeping the visitors in the contest early on.
Watkins proved the difference-maker in the first half. The Villa forward struck again in the 36th minute to restore his team's lead. Morgan Rogers then added a third goal just after the restart in the 46th minute, seemingly putting Villa in control at 3-1 up.
Villa dominated possession with 50 percent of the ball and created more chances. The home team managed seven shots on target compared to Sunderland's seven, with an expected goals advantage of 2.54 to 1.76. Rogers delivered an outstanding performance, earning a 9.0 rating while scoring and creating chances.
Sunderland refused to surrender. Trai Hume pulled one back in the 86th minute, setting up a tense finale. Wilson Isidor struck again in the 87th minute to make it 3-3, transforming the match into a thrilling battle.
The dramatic conclusion belonged to Abraham. The substitute, introduced late in the second half, fired home in the 90+3rd minute to break Sunderland's resistance. His intervention proved decisive in a match that swung between both teams.
Watkins finished with two goals and an assist, demonstrating his importance to Villa's attacking play. Sunderland's late surge showed fighting spirit but ultimately fell short. Villa's defense held firm when it mattered most.
The victory moves Villa closer to securing their top-four position with important matches remaining. Sunderland, despite the loss, showed they can compete with top teams and will look to carry that intensity forward.
