Sunderland earn Europa League place with win over 10-man Chelsea

Sunderland completed their Premier League return in style after a 2-1 win over Chelsea confirmed their spot in the Europa League next season.

Trai Hume sent the Black Cats ahead in the 25th minute with a bottom-corner finish and they doubled their advantage five minutes after the restart through Malo Gusto’s own goal in a chaotic start to the second half.

Cole Palmer pulled one back for Chelsea in the 56th minute, but just six minutes later the Blues were reduced to 10 when Wesley Fofana picked up a second yellow card.

Victory combined with results elsewhere cemented Sunderland’s place in Europe next season, capping off a sensational top-flight return for the club – who earned promotion exactly one year ago to the day after beating Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.

Chelsea had started the day in eighth, but defeat sees them finish one point outside of the European places after slipping into 10th.

Luke O’Nien replaced Omar Alderete in the Sunderland line-up from last weekend’s win over Everton, while Chelsea made three changes from their victory over Tottenham as Gusto, Levi Colwill and Joao Pedro all started.

Palmer had a tame effort pushed away by Robin Roefs, but the Black Cats largely controlled the early stages.

Hume played a neat ball into Enzo Le Fee, who charged down the right and forced Robert Sanchez into a strong save at his near post.

Pedro Neto’s deep free-kick was scrambled away by the home defence but Sunderland nearly struck twice at the other end when Colwill booted away Hume’s cross intended for Brian Brobbey and Nilson Angulo’s curling strike was held by Sanchez.

The Black Cats found the opener when Roefs’ kick was nodded down by O’Nien for Hume to squeeze the ball into the