Xhaka saves Sunderland in a mini-African derby

Many African players were part of the Sunderland vs Everton game last night.

Toffies already have Senegal veterans Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye, along with Guinea-Bissau‘s Beto (started on the bench), while the Black Cats had DR Congo‘s Noah Sadiki, Mozambique‘s Reinildo Mandava, Burkina Faso‘s Bertrand Traore, and Morocco‘s Chemsdine Talbi (started from the bench).

Still, the home team needed their former Arsenal (and now their own) captain to save them from their first home defeat.

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Sunderland are a revelation so far in the Premier League and sit at fourth spot, level on points with Liverpool and only one point away from second-placed Manchester City!

After a stunning away win in London against Chelsea, the Black Cats and their fans expected a win at home against the Toffies, but Granit Xhaka‘s lucky strike got them a deserved draw: Sunderland – Everton 1-1.

On the night when David Moyes returned to the Stadium of Light for the first time after he relegated as Sunderland's coach in 2016/17, his men were far better in the first half and apart from Ndiaye‘s goal had two more excellent chances, but totally failed in the second and allowed Xhaka‘s equalizer after only 43 seconds into the first half.

Sunderland‘s Africans didn‘t do much but former Gunner did and it was enough for a point.

From second league to second place - Sunderland silenced Stamford Bridge and jumped behind Arsenal

It was 23 seconds on the clock when Everton nearly took a lead.

Just when the players started the game from the center, the ball dropped to Garner, who flashed a strike inches wide of the upright from about 25 meters.

But it all changed in the 14th minute when Toffies finally got the goal.

Barry nicked the ball from Sadiki and it allowed Iliman Ndiaye to charge forward.

The Senegal forward dribbled his way into the penalty area before skipping past a couple of challenges and firing a let-footed shot into the corner of the net.

Sunderland claimed Sadiki was fouled by Barry, but VAR disagreed and confirmed the goal.

The Black Cats were totally shocked and on their knees but the guests simple weren‘t concentrated enough to finish Sunderland off in the first half already.

Grealish hit the post in the 22nd minute before the Manchester City ace assisted to Barry six minutes later, but the Frenchman somehow managed to miss from five meters!

The punishment for all those misses didn‘t come in the first half, but it did just 43 seconds into the second.

The ball came to Granit Xhaka, who took a powerful shot. Pickford was in a good position to save it, but Tarkowski tried to block it with his foot, but changed the direction of the ball instead and put it in his own net.

Nearly the same thing happened in the 49th minute, but this time, Pickford was able to save the deflection after Le Fee shot.

At this point, Sunderland was all over the place, but nothing came out of it.

Isidor had a good chance in the 77th minute but his shot ended over the bar and that was it.

Everton was so bad in the second half that their first (and only) chance happened in the 85th minute when Mykolenko took a shot but Roefs saved it.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 10

Saturday

Brighton - Leeds 3-0 (1-0)

/Welbeck 11, Gomez 64, 70/

Burnley - Arsenal 0-2 (0-2)

/Gyokeres 14, Rice 35/

Crystal Palace - Brentford 2-0 (1-0)

/Mateta 30, Collins 51 (og)/

Fulham - Wolverhampton 3-0 (1-0)

/Sessegnon 9, Wilson 62, Mosquera 75 (og)/

Nottingham Forest - Manchester United 2-2 (0-1)

/Gibbs-White 48, Savona 50 - Casemiro 34, Diallo 81/

Tottenham - Chelsea 0-1 (0-1)

/Pedro 34/

Liverpool - Aston Villa 2-0 (1-0)

/Salah 45+1, Gravenberch 58/

Sunday

West Ham - Newcastle 3-1 (2-1)

/Paqueta 35, Botman 45+5 og, Soucek 90+7 - Murphy 4/

Manchester City - Bournemouth 3-1 (2-1)

/Haaland 17,33, O'Riley 60 - Adams 25/

Monday

Sunderland - Everton 1-1 (0-1)

/Xhaka 46 - Ndiaye 15/