SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Joao Pedro of Chelsea reacts during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Chelsea at the Stadium of Light on May 24, 2026 in Sunderland, England.
Glorious noise, glorious sunshine, and some glorious football — well, glorious from the home side at least.
That bit of luck galvanized Chelsea a little bit, but not nearly enough.
As we headed into the final 20 minutes, results elsewhere meant that we would’ve needed just a goal (and a draw) to get into Europa League.
Alas, those hopes would die a slow and extended death, as we endured nearly a quarter hour of stoppage time at the end.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Joao Pedro of Chelsea reacts during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Chelsea at the Stadium of Light on May 24, 2026 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) Getty Images
Not sure what’s a stronger word than cacophony, but that’s what greeted the teams as they walked out onto the pitch at the Stadium of Light. Glorious noise, glorious sunshine, and some glorious football — well, glorious from the home side at least.
It was far from glorious from the Blues, and the constant attack-v-defense exercise would eventually result in a conceded goal: a long ball from the goalkeeper catching out the left side of our defense (2-v-1), and Trey Hume producing a rather outstanding first-time finish to beat Robert Sánchez on 25 minutes.
A tame effort from Cole Palmer was all Chelsea had to show up to that point; and though we’d start to come forward a bit more after the goal, João Pedro’s header was the only time we threatened Robin Roefs’ goal. JP nodded wide unfortunately and we’d head into half time a goal down.
Coming back against the league’s fourth best defense was always going to take a bit effort … and to no one’s surprise given the way this season has gone, we’d produce very little in the way of any effort in the second half.
Sánchez made a great save to keep the deficit at one just moments after the restart, but not even he could prevent a ridiculous own goal from Malo Gusto to double Sunderland’s lead five minutes into the period.
And that goal loomed even larger five minutes later, when Palmer got a helping hand from Roefs, who pushed a long-range effort into the net rather than around it.
That bit of luck galvanized Chelsea a little bit, but not nearly enough. And then Wesley Fofana got himself sent off for his latest bit of lazy defending — the second yellow may have been a bit harsh, especially with Levi Colwill also right there and doing just as much shirt-pulling, but why even put yourself in that situation when you’re the only player on a booking.
As we headed into the final 20 minutes, results elsewhere meant that we would’ve needed just a goal (and a draw) to get into Europa League. Alas, those hopes would die a slow and extended death, as we endured nearly a quarter hour of stoppage time at the end. We never looked like scoring.
Thankfully, the match and this terrible season would eventually end.
Carefree.
Three changes from midweek, with João Pedro, Colwill, and Gusto coming back in and Liam Delap, Josh Acheampong, and Andrey Santos dropping to the bench
Also a formation change, trying a back-three once again — with slightly less inspiration than at other times
Chelsea finish tenth, on just 52 points — not quite as bad as 2022-23, but pretty close
Sunderland get 7th and Europa; Brighton lose 3-0, but finish 8th and get Conference League; Brentford manage just a draw against Liverpool and thus finish 9th
West Ham win but so do Spurs, so they avoid relegation and West Ham go down
KTBFFH
