Sunderland 1-0 Fulham: two substitutes unlock a stalemate
AI-written review based on match data · How we make it
Key numbers
- xG 2.02 v 0.95: Sunderland had the better chances
- Fulham: 11 shots, none on target
- 75': subs Isidor and Diarra combine, +1.4 FN xPts
Two substitutes break the deadlock
Sunderland beat Fulham 1-0 at the Stadium of Light after a goalless first half and a long stalemate after it. Wilson Isidor, introduced in the 64th minute, scored in the 75th. The assist came from fellow substitute Habib Diarra, who had arrived a minute after him.
Fulham kept the ball without threatening
Fulham saw more of the ball, but it brought them little. Eight of their shots were blocked and none hit the target, so Robin Roefs had no save to make. Their average effort was worth 0.09 xG, against Sunderland's 0.17, which suggests they were settling for low-quality attempts.
Sunderland left chances on the table
Sunderland's xG of 2.02 suggests they could have won by a wider margin, yet they scored once. Enzo Le Fée took more shots than anyone on the pitch, but only one of them found the target. The home side created the better openings, though their finishing lagged behind the chance creation.
A 75th-minute goal carried the points
Isidor's strike was worth +1.4 FN xPts to Sunderland, turning a level match into a lead. It was his first league goal of the season, and Diarra was credited with his first league assist. The result lifts Sunderland from 15th to 11th in the table.
Player of the match
Granit Xhaka 7.5Strong
His four key passes were the most in the match, and he completed 54 of his 58 passes.
Xhaka's biggest contribution came going forward, with a match-high four key passes, and he added to the build-up too. He won five of seven duels and drew three fouls. With Sunderland holding only 41% of the ball and the score goalless until the 75th minute, his steady presence helped keep the match open for the substitutes who later settled it.
Game state
1-0
Sunderland ahead 15 min · level 75 min · Fulham ahead 0 min
- Wilson Isidor — off the bench 26 min · 1G 0A
- Habib Diarra — off the bench 18 min · 0G 1A
FN xPts — what each moment was worth
How much each moment changed that team's expected points (win 3, draw 1). A goal's value is credited 70% to the scorer and 30% to the assist.
75'
Wilson Isidor
Goal · scorer +1.0 · assist Habib Diarra +0.4
+1.4
Sunderland
Expected (last two seasons) 1.6Own moments +1.4Opponent moments 0.0Time effect 0.0→ League points won 3
Fulham
Expected (last two seasons) 1.2Own moments 0.0Opponent moments −0.9Time effect −0.3→ League points won 0
Expected points don't add up to a fixed total (a draw is 1 + 1), so an opponent's moment isn't simply the mirror of your loss. "Time effect" is the change as the clock runs down on a lead or a chase, and isn't credited to any player.
How FN Score and FN xPts work →
Match stats
SunderlandFulham
2.02Expected goals (xG)0.95
Timeline
- 35'
Yellow
Joachim Andersen
- 59'
Yellow
César Palacios
- 64'
Sub
Brian Brobbey → Wilson Isidor
- 65'
Sub
Nilson Angulo → Habib Diarra
- 68'
Sub
Timothy Castagne → Ryan Sessegnon
- 68'
Sub
Oscar Bobb → Shea Charles
- 75'
Goal
Wilson Isidor league goal #1 assist Habib Diarra
- 76'
Sub
César Palacios → Emile Smith Rowe
- 83'
Sub
→ Chris Rigg
- 83'
Sub
Sander Berge → Kevin
- 90'
Sub
Enzo Le Fée → Romaine Mundle
Category leaders
- Key passesGranit Xhaka4
- Duels wonTrai Hume8/14
- DribblesNilson Angulo3/4
- Defensive actionsNoah Sadiki6
- ShotsEnzo Le Fée4 (on target 1)
- Fouls wonGranit Xhaka3
#Sunderland#Fulham#Premier League#Granit Xhaka#Wilson Isidor#Habib Diarra
This review was written by AI from match data (API-Football). FN Score and FN xPts are calculated by Fulltime Note using a published formula.