Sunderland made a dream return to the Premier League with a superb 3-0 home win over West Ham, a side that has now lost more opening-day PL games than any other, 17 times.
Back in the top flight for the first time in over eight years, there was a great atmosphere at the Stadium of Light. West Ham started brighter, with Jarrod Bowen testing goalkeeper Robin Roefs early on. But Sunderland soon found their rhythm, and nearly scored when Habib Diarra forced a save after combining well with Eliezer Mayenda.
West Ham grew into the half, with new signing El Hadji Malick Diouf and Bowen both going close. Still, Sunderland stayed solid and went into the break with a clean sheet.
The hosts pushed again after the restart, and Mayenda put them in front on the hour mark with a clever diving header from Omar Alderete’s cross. Sunderland made it 2-0 not long after, when Simon Adingra delivered a perfect ball for Daniel Ballard to head home.
West Ham’s changes, including Callum Wilson, didn’t help, and Sunderland sealed the win in added time. Wilson Isidor broke from near the halfway line and calmly slotted in the third to cap off a perfect return to the top flight.
It was Sunderland’s first opening-day PL win in 10 attempts, while pressure may already be mounting on Graham Potter after a flat start.
