Sunderland Vs Fulham: Raul Jimenez Double Seals 3-1 Win at Stadium of Light
The latest result in the sunderland vs fulham fixture saw Fulham run out 3-1 winners at the Stadium of Light, a victory that ended their three-match Premier League losing run and produced several decisive moments that will shape both clubs' seasons.
Sunderland Vs Fulham: Match summary and scoreline
Fulham beat Sunderland 3-1 at the Stadium of Light. Raul Jimenez scored twice for the visitors and Alex Iwobi added a third late on. Enzo le Fee converted a penalty for Sunderland in the second half. Attendance was 47, 222. Fulham completed a league double over Sunderland for the first time since the 2002-03 campaign.
How the goals unfolded
Raul Jimenez opened the scoring by heading in from an Alex Iwobi corner; one part of the context describes that finish as coming from a 54th-minute corner, while another part says Jimenez gave Fulham the lead midway through the first half—timing unclear in the provided context. Seven minutes after the opener, Fulham were awarded a penalty after referee Craig Pawson was sent to the pitchside monitor and the decision was awarded following a VAR review; the penalty was the result of Brian Brobbey pulling on Calvin Bassey's shirt in the area. Jimenez converted the spot-kick, sending Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs the wrong way. Later, with five minutes left, Harry Wilson broke clear and slipped in Alex Iwobi, who dinked a calm finish over Robin Roefs for Fulham's third.
Penalties, bookings and controversies
Fulham's second came from the penalty won by Calvin Bassey after the pitchside monitor/VAR review and converted by Raul Jimenez. Sunderland earned a penalty when Dan Ballard drove into the area and was bundled to the floor by Ryan Sessegnon; Enzo le Fee struck his spot-kick into the top corner. Jimenez had been booked in the first half for catching Dan Ballard with a flailing arm and almost received a second yellow for a similar incident on Omar Alderete a few minutes later.
Player tallies and notable milestones
Raul Jimenez's double took his seasonal tally to 11 goals in 36 appearances for Fulham and Mexico this season. The penalty he scored was noted as his 13th successful penalty out of 13 in the Premier League. The 34-year-old's previous goal had come in a 3-2 defeat against Manchester United on 1 February. Alex Iwobi's late goal was his first strike since December and, in the match, he both scored and assisted — an occurrence noted as only the third time in his Premier League career that he has both scored and assisted in the same game.
Wider implications: form, table and home records
Fulham's win ended a three-game losing streak and was their first league win away in the top flight this year; it was also their first league victory since they beat Brighton 2-1 on 24 January. The result moved Fulham above Sunderland and to 10th in the table; one account specifies Fulham rose to tenth, displacing Newcastle in the Premier League's top half, while another places Sunderland as a comfortable twelfth, described as surely already assured of their place in the top flight for next season.
For Sunderland, the home defeat represented a second consecutive loss at the Stadium of Light. Regis Le Bris' side had been on a 12-game unbeaten run at the Stadium of Light until Liverpool visited a fortnight ago, and they have now succumbed to a second home loss in as many outings. Fulham were described as only the second side to emerge as winners at the Stadium of Light since Sunderland were promoted to the Premier League.
What this means next
The match delivered a mixture of individual milestones, contentious moments involving VAR and the pitchside monitor, and shifting table positions. Details that remain unclear in the provided context include the exact minute of Jimenez's opening goal, given conflicting timing in the records. Beyond that, the result secures Fulham momentum from a crucial away victory and leaves Sunderland to address the errors that contributed to consecutive home defeats.
