Xhaka Rescues Sunderland's Unbeaten Run, But the Damage Feels Deeper

Moyen Score Futmetrix: 43/100. Two teams fired 25 shots but delivered only hollow entertainment—a draw that leaves both sides feeling like they lost.

When Possession Masks Mediocrity

Sunderland dominated the ball with 61% possession, yet Everton's counterattack struck first. Granit Xhaka and company were caught flat-footed in the 15th minute when Iliman Ndiaye exploited the space and fired past the keeper. The early goal should have catalyzed Intensity, but instead it triggered a listless first half where Sunderland's control translated into aimless sideways passes.

The Balance shifted violently at the restart. Just one minute into the second half, Xhaka rose to meet Édouard Le Fée's delivery and powered home an equalizer that felt less like a breakthrough and more like an obligation. Sunderland had to equalize—they're fourth in the table, chasing European football. Everton, languishing 14th, had no such mandate. That disparity in Stakes defined the entire match: one team desperate to prove their title credentials, the other merely trying to avoid the drop zone.

What followed was a shooting gallery masquerading as football. Sunderland unleashed 17 shots; Everton managed just eight. Yet only five efforts tested the keeper across both sides. The 25 combined attempts created a false sense of drama—volume without substance. Neither side constructed clear-cut chances; instead, they relied on hopeful long-range efforts and blocked shots that clogged the stat sheet without threatening the scoreline.

Xhaka's performance stood apart: five key passes, constant positioning in transition, and the crucial finish. But even his 9.3 rating couldn't elevate a match that felt simultaneously frantic and suffocating. Yellow cards accumulated (five total), fouls piled up, and the match devolved into a physical contest where neither side could impose tactical superiority.

For Sunderland, this draw punctures their momentum. They came to the Stadium of Light unbeaten in recent form (W-W-L-W-D) and face relegation-form Everton as favorites. Walking away with one point when three were there for the taking is a missed opportunity that could haunt them come May. Everton, meanwhile, escape with a credible point but remain adrift in 14th, their 3-3-4 record screaming inconsistency.

The match had all the ingredients for compelling football—two teams with contrasting ambitions, an early lead change, a dramatic equalizer. Yet the execution was so disjointed that the final whistle felt like relief rather than resolution. Sometimes possession and shot volume are red herrings. This was one of those nights.