Everton 1-1 (3-0 Pen) Sunderland Player Ratings: Black Cats Edge out on Penalties Against a Lacklustre Everton Side

The Everton vs Sunderland match in the Third Round of the FA Cup had everything you'd want from a cup classic. It was a nail-biting encounter that stretched all the way to a penalty shootout. Sunderland showed incredible grit to pull off the victory against Everton. The game finished 1-1 after 120 minutes of tense football.

Sunderland took the lead in the first half through a well-taken goal by Enzo Le Fée at the 30th-minute mark. They looked comfortable for large parts of the game. However, a late, clumsy challenge from Trai Hume gifted Everton a penalty just a minute before regulation time. James Garner coolly converted it to send the game into extra time.

Extra time was a cagey affair with few clear chances. Both sides looked leggy, and it always felt destined for penalties. In the shootout, Sunderland's goalkeeper Robin Roefs became the hero, saving three crucial spot-kicks. It was a deserved victory for the Black Cats, who fought tooth and nail for their place in the next round of the FA Cup.

Here are the Everton vs Sunderland Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Sunderland held their nerve on a dramatic FA Cup night, edging past Everton on penalties after a tense 1–1 draw, with goalkeeper Robin Roefs emerging as the hero when it mattered most.

• Midfield quality made the difference for Sunderland, as Enzo Le Fée’s creativity and Granit Xhaka’s calm control helped them stay composed against Premier League opposition.

• Everton showed fight but lacked cutting edge, with James Garner standing out thanks to his late equaliser, while too many others failed to step up in decisive moments.

Sunderland Player Ratings vs Everton

Here are the Sunderland Player Ratings from the Everton vs Sunderland Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Robin Roefs - 8.5: A true hero for Sunderland. He was solid during the 120 minutes, making a couple of important saves to keep his team in it. But it was in the penalty shootout where he truly shone. Saving from both James Garner and Beto was a monumental effort. What stood out to us was his composure under immense pressure. He won the game for his team.

Defenders

Dennis Cirkin - 7.0: A really solid performance over the full 120 minutes. He was a constant outlet on the left, creating two chances and putting in a decent cross. Defensively, he was diligent, winning half his duels and making three interceptions. A tireless and dependable display from the fullback.

Luke O'Nien - 7.5: An absolute rock at the back. He won an impressive seven of his eight duels and was a commanding presence throughout. We noticed his leadership, constantly organizing the backline. He made five crucial clearances and was then cool enough to step up and score his penalty. A captain's performance, even without the armband.

Nordi Mukiele - 6.5: Had his hands full but coped reasonably well for the most part. He made a massive seven clearances which shows how much pressure Everton applied. However, he did look a bit rash at times, picking up a yellow card and losing a few key duels. A mixed but ultimately effective performance.

Trai Hume - 5.0: It was a tough, tough day for Hume. He was solid for large stretches of the match. But his late, rash challenge for the penalty undid all his good work. It was a moment of panic that cost his team dearly in normal time. The two yellow cards tell the story of a player who was walking a tightrope.

Midfielders

Romaine Mundle - 7.0: A very lively and energetic presence for the full 120 minutes. He was a constant threat, registering four shots with three on target, forcing Pickford into saves. We were impressed by his willingness to take players on and he drew a remarkable six fouls. His end product could have been better, but his persistence was key.

Noah Sadiki - 6.0: A combative performance in the middle of the park. He won all four of his tackles which is hugely impressive. However, his indiscipline let him down. Committing four fouls and picking up a yellow card put his team under unnecessary pressure. He needs to channel that aggression more effectively.

Enzo Le Fée - 8.5: What a magnificent display. He scored a brilliant opening goal with a calm finish. Beyond the goal, he was the creative spark for Sunderland, creating an incredible six chances for his teammates. He then had the nerve to step up and score the first penalty in the shootout. A truly outstanding performance that deserved to be on the winning side.

Granit Xhaka - 8.0: The conductor in midfield. His 96% pass accuracy from 114 passes is just phenomenal. He dictated the tempo of the game, calmed things down when needed, and always seemed to be in the right place. He also showed his experience by slotting his penalty away with confidence. A truly classy performance.

Simon Adingra - 5.5: A quiet outing for Adingra, who was substituted after 71 minutes. He struggled to get involved in the game meaningfully. He lost possession 14 times and didn't offer much of a threat going forward. From our perspective, it was a day where the game just passed him by.

Forwards

Eliezer Mayenda - 7.0: He was a bright spark during his 71 minutes on the pitch. While he didn't score, his creative play was excellent, providing four key passes for his teammates. He was a willing runner and caused problems for the Everton defence with his movement. A promising performance that suggested he could have done more with more time.

Substitutes

Substitutes - N/A: No substitutes had a significant enough impact to warrant a full rating, coming on late in the game or during extra time without major incident.

Manager

R. Le Bris - 7.5: He got his tactics spot on. His team was organised, resilient, and showed tremendous character to not crumble after conceding the late equalizer. He managed the game well through extra time and prepared his team perfectly for the pressure of the shootout. A great cup victory for him and his side.

Everton Player Ratings vs Sunderland

Here are the Everton Player Ratings from the Everton vs Sunderland Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Jordan Pickford - 7.0: He couldn't have done much about the goal he conceded. He made five saves throughout the game, including a couple of really smart stops to keep Everton in the contest. Unfortunately, he couldn't be the hero in the shootout, but it was a strong performance from the England number one overall.

Defenders

Nathan Patterson - 6.5: A steady, if unspectacular, performance. He was solid defensively for the most part, winning seven duels and making some important interventions. However, he offered little threat going forward, and his delivery from wide areas was often lacking. A standard 6.5 performance.

James Tarkowski - 8.0: A colossal performance at the heart of the defence. He was an absolute warrior, winning 11 of his 13 duels and making seven clearances. He even popped up with two key passes, showing his quality on the ball. He led by example and did everything he could to drag his team to victory.

Jake O'Brien - 7.0: A very composed and solid partner for Tarkowski. He was excellent in the air, winning most of his aerial battles, and his passing was crisp with 90% accuracy. He made a number of important tackles and clearances. A really mature performance from the defender.

Vitaliy Mykolenko - 7.5: We were very impressed with Mykolenko before he was subbed off. He was a huge threat down the left flank, registering three shots and always looking to get forward. He was also defensively sound, making seven clearances and two interceptions. A real shame his game was cut short by injury or fatigue.

Midfielders

James Garner - 8.5: Our man of the match. He was simply outstanding for 120 minutes. His passing was near-perfect, he recovered the ball 12 times, and he showed nerves of steel to score the equalizing penalty. The shootout miss was the only blemish on an otherwise imperious performance. He controlled the midfield completely.

Dwight McNeil - 6.5: A hard-working but ultimately frustrating performance from McNeil. He ran tirelessly for 120 minutes and made eight ball recoveries. However, his final ball was lacking, and he struggled to create clear-cut chances. He put in a shift, but Everton needed more quality from him in the final third.

Harrison Armstrong - 7.0: A classic workhorse performance in midfield. He covered every blade of grass, making nine ball recoveries and winning his tackles. While not the most creative player, his energy and determination were vital for Everton. He never stopped running for the cause.

Tyler Dibling - 5.5: A difficult day for the young midfielder. He struggled to impose himself on the game and was often bypassed in midfield. He lost possession too frequently and was eventually substituted. A learning experience for him, for sure.

Merlin Röhl - 6.0: He showed some nice touches and bursts of energy. He won a good number of his duels and tried to drive the team forward. However, he lacked the final product and his influence faded as the game went on. A decent but forgettable performance.

Forwards

Beto - 5.0: A really frustrating afternoon for the big striker. He was physically present but offered very little goal threat over 120 minutes. He lost the majority of his duels and his touch often let him down. To cap it all off, he missed his penalty in the shootout. A day he will want to forget quickly.

Substitutes

Substitutes - N/A: No substitutes had a significant enough impact to warrant a full rating, coming on late in the game or during extra time without major incident.

Manager

D. Moyes - 5.5: His team looked flat and devoid of ideas for long periods. They were reliant on a late penalty to even get back into the game. From our perspective, the tactics seemed rigid, and they struggled to break down a well-organized Sunderland side. The defeat on penalties will be a bitter pill to swallow.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's man of the match goes to Robin Roefs of Sunderland.

Worst Performer

Trai Hume of Everton was the worst performer in the Everton vs Sunderland match.