Sunderland Vs Fulham: Jiménez double and Iwobi seal 3-1 win
In the sunderland vs fulham match Raúl Jiménez scored twice as Fulham beat Sunderland 3-1 at the Stadium of Light, ending a three-match Premier League losing run and moving Fulham above Sunderland to 10th in the table. The game featured two penalties, a pitchside monitor review, late hope for the hosts and strong post-match reactions from managers and clubs.
How the goals unfolded
Raúl Jiménez opened the scoring after peeling off his marker in the penalty area to head in Alex Iwobi's 54th-minute corner and break the deadlock. Seven minutes later, with referee Craig Pawson sent to the pitchside monitor, Fulham were awarded a penalty when Pawson adjudged Brian Brobbey had pulled on Calvin Bassey's shirt in the area; Jiménez converted the spot-kick, sending Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs the wrong way. Sunderland reduced the deficit in the 76th minute when Dan Ballard drove into the area and was bundled to the floor by Ryan Sessegnon, winning a penalty that Enzo le Fee found the top corner with on a powerful spot-kick. Fulham completed the scoring on the counter-attack with five minutes left when Harry Wilson broke clear and slipped in Alex Iwobi, who dinked a calm finish over Roefs for his first strike since December.
Jiménez: penalties, record and recent form
Jiménez's second goal was his 13th successful penalty out of 13 in the Premier League. The double took his tally to 11 goals in 36 appearances for club and country this season. The 34-year-old had last scored against Manchester United in a 3-2 defeat on 1 February, and will turn 35 in May; it is approaching six years since his career was placed in serious jeopardy by a skull fracture. He had been booked in the first half for catching Dan Ballard with a flailing arm and nearly received a second yellow card for a similar incident on Omar Alderete a few minutes later, but remained on the pitch to complete the brace.
Sunderland Vs Fulham: refereeing and decisions
The match hinged on two spot-kicks and a pitchside monitor review. Craig Pawson's trip to the monitor led to the Fulham penalty after Brian Brobbey pulled Calvin Bassey's shirt. Sunderland's penalty came when Ryan Sessegnon bundled Dan Ballard to the floor as Ballard drove into the area; the sequence produced Enzo le Fee’s powerful finish into the top corner and briefly gave the hosts hope.
Manager comments and Le Bris reaction
Régis Le Bris called it a difficult afternoon for his side: "It’s a tough day. We couldn’t find the right way to express our quality. We got too sloppy to impose our ideas. It was a tight game but we weren’t good enough. We have to find solutions rather than searching for excuses. We have to show our character. " Le Bris also faced questions over team balance after fielding an attacking starting XI and named two January signings, Jocelin and Nilson Angulo, who operated as touchline-hugging wingers. Angulo is an Ecuador international signed from Anderlecht. Jocelin arrived from Maccabi Netanya, where he failed to make a single first-team appearance and spent most of his two years on loan in Israel’s second tier. The home side also rued clearcut chances missed by Romaine Mundle and Nilson Angulo.
Wider issues: online abuse and club responses
Both Wolves and Sunderland issued statements condemning online racist abuse aimed at players. Wolves condemned racist posts aimed at Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare after a penalty miss and republished specific posts that included references to Arokodare as a monkey, saying in full: "Wolves are disgusted by numerous instances of racist abuse, from multiple perpetrators. There is no place for racism – in football, online, or anywhere in society. We condemn this abhorrent and unlawful behaviour in the strongest possible terms. Tolu has our full and unwavering support. No player should be subjected to such hatred simply for doing their job. We stand firmly alongside him, and alongside all footballers who are forced to endure this abuse from anonymous accounts acting with apparent impunity. " The club added that it has "reported the posts to the relevant platforms". Arokodare posted on X: "It’s still unbelievable to me that we’re playing in a time where people have so much freedom to communicate such racism without any consequences. " Sunderland said they were working with authorities to identify those responsible for "vile online racist abuse" directed at Romaine Mundle, adding: "These individuals do not represent Sunderland AFC, our values, or our community - and they are not welcome on Wearside. " Kick It Out summed up "an appalling weekend" of abuse and posted on X: "Action must follow. Players cannot be expected to tolerate this behaviour, and nor should anyone else. "
Fulham's 3-1 victory completed a league double over Sunderland for the first time since the 2002-03 campaign, was the club's first league win since they beat Brighton 2-1 on 24 January and their first away win in the top flight this year, and moved them above Sunderland to 10th in the table.
Match details and the sequence of events — Jiménez's 54th-minute header from Iwobi's corner, the pitchside-monitor decision and Fulham penalty seven minutes later, Sunderland's 76th-minute penalty from Dan Ballard's drive and Enzo le Fee's top-corner spot-kick, and Iwobi's 85th-minute finish after Harry Wilson's break — defined the afternoon and shaped the reaction from both camps.
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