Iliman Ndiaye scored a superb solo goal for Everton, but Granit Xhaka’s deflected equaliser secured a deserved point for Sunderland in the entertaining 1-1 Premier League draw at the Stadium of Light on Monday.

Promoted Sunderland continues its fine start to the season and moves into fourth in the table with 18 points from its 10 games, while Everton is in 14th with 12 points.

Ndiaye gave the visitor the lead in 15 minutes as he picked up the ball on the right wing and drove towards goal, beating four defenders with his quick feet and curling his shot into the net from the edge of the box.

Sunderland took control of the game after the half-hour mark and created numerous opportunities, with Xhaka’s goal-bound effort 40 seconds into the second half deflecting into the net off the foot of James Tarkowski.

Both coaches will look at the result with some sense of frustration, Everton’s David Moyes due to early missed chances, and Sunderland’s Regis Le Bris for the fact that his side could not make its second-half dominance count.

“To be honest, we lost the three points today in the first 20-25 minutes, in my opinion, sloppy on the ball, too many mistakes, easy mistakes,” Xhaka told Sky Sports.

“At this level, you get punished, but the second half was very, very good. A lot of emotions. We create a lot of chances. With a bit more luck, we win this game, but in the end, we take one point,” he added.

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Moyes has been talking about Everton earning European football for next season, but until it starts getting goals from its misfiring strikers, that is a pipe dream.

Everton dominated the opening half-hour but only managed a single goal through Ndiaye’s wonderful strike.

James Garner flashed a shot inches wide in the opening seconds, Jack Grealish hit the post, and Thierno Barry blazed over from two yards out when it seemed easier to score.

Had he made it 2-0 at that point, it is likely Everton would have gone on to win, but Sunderland seized control after that, buoyed by its good fortune.

It got its equaliser within a minute of the second half as Xhaka’s low shot found its way into the net off Tarkowski, when goalkeeper Jordan Pickford looked to have it covered.

Sunderland’s pressure did not turn into another goal as Everton scrambled to keep it at bay.

“We started very well and got a great goal from Ndiaye,” Pickford said.

“Then they have changed their shape a bit, and the defensive effort we had to put in was first class. You always want to get that second goal and we didn’t. But we have come away from home and got a point,” he added.

Published on Nov 04, 2025