A spirited 10-man Sunderland fought back to secure a valuable point against Aston Villa in front of their home crowd at the Stadium of Light. Despite losing Reinildo Mandava to a first-half red card, the Black Cats showed resilience and equalised through Wilson Isidor after Matty Cash had given Villa the lead. Emery’s side dominated possession but were once again frustrated, leaving them still searching for their first league win of the campaign.
Final Score
Sunderland 1–1 Aston Villa
Premier League — Matchday 5 of 38, Stadium of Light, 21 September 2025
Goals
- Aston Villa — Matty Cash 67′
- Sunderland — Wilson Isidor 75′
Red card: Reinildo Mandava (Sunderland) 33′
Key Talking Points
- Mandava dismissal: Sunderland’s early setback with a red card forced them into a defensive battle.
- Cash opener: The right-back continued his fine form, striking low past Roefs.
- Isidor impact: Sunderland’s summer signing scored his third consecutive home goal, making him one of the standout players of their season.
- Villa’s struggles: Despite 72% possession, Villa lacked cutting edge, with Watkins missing a key chance.
Minute-by-Minute Timeline
- 33′ — Red card Sunderland: Reinildo Mandava shown straight red after a reckless challenge.
- 45′ HT: Villa control possession, but Sunderland defend compactly. 0–0 at the break.
- 67′ Goal Aston Villa 0–1: Matty Cash finishes after linking well with McGinn.
- 75′ Goal Sunderland 1–1: Wilson Isidor fires home after latching onto Xhaka’s through-ball.
- 82′–90′: Villa press forward. Watkins misses a late sitter. Sunderland hang on.
- FT: Sunderland 1–1 Aston Villa.
Match Stats
| Stat | Sunderland | Aston Villa |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 14 | 12 |
| On target | 4 | 2 |
| Possession | 28% | 72% |
| Passes | 218 | 547 |
| Pass Accuracy | 69% | 89% |
| Fouls | 14 | 8 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 1 |
| Red Cards | 1 | 0 |
| Offsides | 0 | 3 |
| Corners | 6 | 5 |
Confirmed Lineups
Sunderland XI
Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Mandava; C. Rigg, Xhaka, Sadiki; Talbi, Isidor, le Fee
Subs used: Dan Neil, Daniel Ballard, Brian Brobbey
Aston Villa XI
Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, McGinn, Guessand; Buendía, Rogers; Watkins
Subs used: Harvey Elliott, Donyell Malen, Jadon Sancho
Player of the Match
Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) — A clinical equaliser under pressure, now three goals in three home league appearances.
Post-Match Quotes
Wilson Isidor, Sunderland:
“I always believe I can score, no matter the situation. The fans pushed us on, and even with 10 men we didn’t give up.”
Unai Emery, Aston Villa manager:
“We created enough to win but lacked the final touch. It’s a tough result for us, but we must keep pushing.”
What’s Next?
- Sunderland: Travel to face Nottingham Forest next weekend.
- Aston Villa: Host Bologna in the Europa League before resuming Premier League action.
Join the FansZone Community
⚽ Get instant goal alerts, confirmed lineups, and live match chat:
