Sunderland revive survival bid with win
LONDON: Sunderland climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone by coming from behind to beat Chelsea 3-2 on Saturday.
The Black Cats were 2-1 down at home to Chelsea, last season’s champions, before two goals in three second-half minutes from Fabio Borini and Jermain Defoe dramatically turned the match their way.
Sunderland fell behind in the 14th minute through striker Diego Costa.
But they were level four minutes before the break when Tunisia’s Wahbi Khazri struck a brilliant 20-yard volley.
However, there was still time for Chelsea to regain the lead before half-time through Nemanja Matic.
Borini then turned in Patrick van Aanholt’s cut-back in the 67th minute and Defoe made it 3-2 when he seized on a cross into the box.
Chelsea’s defeat was made worse when skipper John Terry was sent off late on.
Victory saw Sunderland go a point in front of Newcastle, who have played one game more than their north-east rivals and could only manage a goalless draw with already-relegated Aston Villa on Saturday.
If Sunderland win at home to Everton on Wednesday, they will stay up and relegate both Newcastle and Norwich City in the process.
“Our destiny is in our hands and a win against Everton will secure our Premier League future,” Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce told Sky Sports. “It will be difficult, but we have an opportunity to achieve it, let’s hope we can.”
Second-bottom Norwich moved closer to the drop after a 1-0 loss at home to Manchester United, with Juan Mata’s 72nd-minute goal proving decisive at Carrow Road.
Dwight Gayle’s two goals gave Crystal Palace a come-from-behind 2-1 win at home to Stoke City that secured the FA Cup finalists Premier League status.
The Eagles were a goal behind at Selhurst Park when Charlie Adam gave Stoke a 26th-minute lead.
But Gayle equalised early in the second half before making it 2-1 with a 25-yard free-kick.
Swansea beat West Ham 4-1 to all but end the London club’s hopes of Champions League qualification.
Wayne Routledge volleyed in Ki SeungYueng’s cross in the 25th minute at Upton Parl and six minutes later Andrew Ayew’s close-range finish made it 2-0
Ki’s volleyed in Swansea’s third goal in the 51st minute.
Stephen Kingsley’s 68th-minute owngoal gave the home side hope but Swansea then saw Bafetimbi Gomis score in stoppage time.