Yankuba Minteh's decisive second-half strike secured a hard-fought 1-0 away victory for Brighton over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Brighton clinched vital Premier League points on March 14, 2026. Winger Yankuba Minteh's second-half goal proved the difference. Sunderland felt unlucky after a VAR decision disallowed an earlier goal.
The clash featured two mid-table teams. Sunderland, 11th, sought to consolidate Premier League status. Brighton, 14th, aimed for consistency. The Black Cats had three losses in their last five games. Brighton managed two wins in their recent five outings.
The first half at the Stadium of Light was cagey. Both teams adopted cautious approaches. Defensive solidity was key. Brighton held a slight edge in possession with 53% of the ball.
Chances were at a premium. Sunderland created few opportunities, not testing Brighton's Bart Verbruggen. Brighton also struggled to break down a resolute Black Cats defence.
The home crowd spurred Sunderland on. Clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities remained elusive. Half-time arrived with the score still 0-0. Everything remained to play for.
The second half promised more attacking intent. A breakthrough felt imminent. Sunderland hoped to capitalize on home advantage.
Just four minutes after the restart, Sunderland thought they had taken the lead. Chris Rigg's goal sparked celebrations. Yet, VAR intervened in the 49th minute, ruling the effort offside. This was a crushing blow.
Brighton swiftly capitalized. Deniz Gomez received a yellow card in the 51st minute. Soon after, Brighton found their breakthrough. Yankuba Minteh drilled home a neat finish in the 58th minute, putting the visitors 1-0 ahead.
Sunderland pushed for an equalizer. Manager Granit Xhaka, earning a yellow card in the 76th minute, made tactical changes. Dan Ballard replaced Luke O'Nien in the 64th minute. Sunderland sought fresh impetus in attack.
Minteh, the goalscorer, received a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct. He was then substituted for Maxim De Cuyper. Brighton's defence held firm against Sunderland's late efforts.
Brighton's victory was statistically deserved. They boasted a higher Expected Goals (xG) of 1.46 compared to Sunderland's 0.85. Both teams recorded 4 shots on target. Brighton, however, created better quality chances.
This result lifts Brighton above Sunderland in the Premier League table. It provides a significant morale boost for the Seagulls. Sunderland faces a challenge to regain momentum after this disappointing home defeat.
