Sunderland are into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after a dramatic 3-2 victory over Premier League rivals Brentford at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday. A blistering first-half performance, inspired by 21-year-old Jocelin Ta Bi, saw the Black Cats score three times in 13 minutes to secure the win.
Chemsdine Talbi opened the scoring in the 26th minute, tapping home after Ta Bi's low drive was parried. Just three minutes later, Timur Tutierov side-footed home a second from Ta Bi's cut-back. The young winger completed a hat-trick of assists in the 39th minute, delivering a perfect cross for Malick Fofana to head home at the far post. Callum Wilson pulled one back for Brentford before half-time, and Igor Thiago scored a consolation in the 94th minute, but Sunderland held on.
Ta Bi's breakout night
The result provides a vital boost for a Sunderland side sitting 20th in the Premier League with just five points from eight games, having recorded only one win and two draws in the league this season. Manager Le Bris made several changes but was rewarded with a standout performance from Ta Bi, who had only featured four times since joining in January. "Three goals in 13 first-half minutes saw Sunderland blitz past Brentford and into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a 3-2 win at the Stadium of Light," the club said.
Brentford dominated possession with 67% and had 16 shots, but found themselves stunned by Sunderland's clinical finishing. The visitors hit the woodwork and had a shot cleared off the line in a frantic early sequence, but could not convert their pressure. The win extends Sunderland's recent form to two wins, two draws and one loss in their last five matches across all competitions, a run that includes a goalless draw with Leeds and a 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth. This cup success comes despite a league campaign where they have scored only six goals while conceding fourteen. The victory lifts some pressure ahead of their next league fixture, an away match against Coventry on Saturday 31 October. Coventry currently sit 19th in the table, just one place above Sunderland. The team will hope their top scorer this season, B. Brobbey with three goals, can help translate this cup form into the league, where they trail leaders Manchester City by sixteen points.
