Sunderland 3-2 Bournemouth Player Ratings: Enzo Rated 9/10 as Black Cats Clinch Thrilling 3-2 Comeback

AFC Bournemouth stormed into what looked like an unassailable 2-0 lead. They looked sharp, clinical, and completely in control. Amine Adli opened the scoring early, and then Tyler Adams unleashed an unbelievable strike from distance. At that point, we thought it was game over for Sunderland. The home crowd was stunned into silence, and the game plan seemed to be in tatters. But football is a funny old game, isn't it?

The entire complexion of the match changed with one clumsy challenge. Alex Scott's foul in the box gave Sunderland a lifeline, and Enzo Le Fée coolly converted the penalty. The second half was a completely different story. Sunderland came out with renewed belief, equalizing almost immediately through Bertrand Traoré before a substitute sealed a memorable 3-2 victory, sending the home fans into delirium.

Here are Sunderland Vs Bournemouth Player Ratings

Sunderland Player Ratings vs Bournemouth

Here are the Sunderland Player Ratings vs Bournemouth

Goalkeeper

Robin Roefs - 7.0: He conceded two goals, but honestly there wasn't much he could do about either. The second was a rocket. What stood out to us were his four crucial saves, especially the ones inside the box that kept Sunderland in the game during Bournemouth's early onslaught. His distribution was a bit nervy at times but he claimed the ball well. A solid, if unspectacular, performance under pressure.

Defenders

Nordi Mukiele - 6.0: A really mixed bag of a performance. On one hand, he was immense in the tackle, winning a staggering 10 of his 14 duels. But on the other, he was credited with an error leading to a goal and lost possession far too often for our liking. He showed his strength but also his vulnerability in a chaotic game.

Dan Ballard - 7.0: A rock at the back when his team needed him. He put his body on the line, blocking three shots and dominating his aerial battles. His passing was reliable, and he even got an assist for a shot for Enzo Le Fée. A commanding display that grew in stature as the game progressed.

Omar Alderete - 5.5: Looked a bit off the pace, to be honest. He was rash in the challenge, earning himself a yellow card and struggling to contain Bournemouth's fluid attack in the first half. He made a few vital clearances, but from our perspective he was the weakest link in the backline today.

Reinildo Mandava - 7.5: We thought he was fantastic. His tireless running and tenacity won the penalty that completely changed the momentum of the match. He was a constant outlet on the left, recovering the ball seven times and always looking to get forward. A warrior-like performance.

Midfielders

Granit Xhaka - 7.0: The captain led by example, especially in the second half. He delivered a perfectly weighted pass for the equalizing goal, showing his class and vision. While he did lose possession more than he'd like, his composure under pressure was vital in orchestrating the comeback. A true leader's performance.

Enzo Le Fée - 9.0: Our Man of the Match, without a shadow of a doubt. This was a masterclass. He showed immense courage to step up and score the penalty that got his team back in it. He then delivered the corner for the winning goal. With three key passes, a goal, and an assist, he was the creative heart of everything good Sunderland did.

Noah Sadiki - 6.0: A quiet and tidy performance. He kept the ball moving with simple passes but didn't really impose himself on the game. He was neat in possession but failed to provide much defensive cover or attacking thrust. Felt a bit like a passenger in a chaotic midfield battle.

Forwards

Bertrand Traoré - 8.0: Absolutely electric. He scored the crucial equalizer right after the break with a composed finish. His direct running and willingness to take on defenders caused constant problems for Bournemouth. He was a livewire throughout and his goal was the catalyst for the second-half dominance.

Wilson Isidor - 6.0: He worked hard but struggled to find his footing in the game. He had one decent shot on target but was otherwise well-marshalled by the Bournemouth defence. It was no surprise to see him substituted as Sunderland sought a different kind of threat.

Chemsdine Talbi - 5.0: A tough day at the office for the young man. An error leading to a goal is what will be remembered from his performance. He also missed a good opportunity to score. He never stopped trying, but it just wasn't his day before being taken off.

Substitutes

Brian Brobbey - 7.5: The dream substitute appearance. He came on and immediately provided the physical presence Sunderland were missing up top. He won the game with a fantastic header, showing great movement and desire in the box. A game-changing substitution.

Trai Hume - 6.0: Came on, battled hard, and picked up a tactical yellow card. He did exactly what was asked of him, helping to shore things up and see out the victory.

Romaine Mundle - 6.5: Looked bright and lively after coming on. His fresh legs helped relieve pressure late in the game by drawing fouls and running the channels.

Manager

R. Le Bris - 8.0: What a turnaround. At 2-0 down, many managers would have seen their teams crumble. His side came out for the second half with incredible fire and belief. His substitutions were perfect, with Brian Brobbey proving to be the match-winner. A tactical triumph.

Bournemouth Player Ratings vs Sunderland

Here are Bournemouth Player Ratings vs Sunderland

Goalkeeper

Djordje Petrovic - 6.0: It's harsh to be too critical when you concede three, but he could have done better. He made three saves but seemed uncertain on crosses, which showed on the winning goal. His distribution was particularly poor, completing only 55% of his passes and putting his team under unnecessary pressure.

Defenders

Adam Smith - 5.5: The captain had a difficult afternoon. He struggled to handle the trickery of Sunderland's wingers and was dribbled past on a couple of occasions. He looked a yard off the pace and his substitution was justified as Bournemouth chased the game.

Bafodé Diakité - 6.5: He was impressively composed on the ball, boasting a 95% pass completion rate which is remarkable for a defender. Made a crucial last-man tackle. However, he was part of a defensive unit that completely collapsed under pressure in the second half.

Marcos Senesi - 6.0: A very odd performance to rate. He created three chances, which is excellent for a centre-back. But his main job is to defend, and his unit shipped three goals. Losing possession 12 times put his team on the back foot far too often.

Adrien Truffert - 6.5: From our perspective, he was Bournemouth's best defender. He was solid in his duels and made an impressive nine ball recoveries. He kept his side of the pitch relatively quiet and can hold his head high despite the result.

Midfielders

Tyler Adams - 7.5: For 70 minutes, he was brilliant. He scored an absolute thunderbolt of a goal that should have been part of a winning performance. He was dictating play from deep and breaking up Sunderland's attacks. His substitution felt like a pivotal moment that handed the midfield advantage to the opposition.

Alex Scott - 4.5: A nightmare of a game for the midfielder. He gave away the penalty that kickstarted Sunderland's comeback with a clumsy tackle. He earned a yellow card for his troubles and was deservedly substituted at halftime. A performance to forget.

Marcus Tavernier - 6.5: Looked very dangerous in the first half, creating three chances and even hitting the woodwork. His energy was infectious early on. However, his influence completely disappeared as Sunderland took control of the game in the second period.

Forwards

Amine Adli - 7.5: He was unplayable for the first 25 minutes. He took his goal well and his direct running terrified the Sunderland defence. He created chances and looked like a match-winner. Like many of his teammates, though, he faded dramatically as the game wore on.

Antoine Semenyo - 6.0: A frustrating player to watch. He created an impressive four chances for his teammates, which shows his quality. But he was also wasteful, lost eight duels, and showed his frustration with a needless late yellow card. So much potential but lacked the final product.

Evanilson - 6.0: He'll be having nightmares about his missed big chance. He also hit the woodwork. On another day he could have had a brace. He got into great positions but just lacked that clinical finishing touch to put the game to bed when Bournemouth were on top.

Substitutes

Lewis Cook - 6.0: Brought on at halftime to add some control after Alex Scott's poor showing, but he was unable to stem the tide of Sunderland's attacks.

Justin Kluivert - 5.5: Failed to make any real impact on the game after coming on.

David Brooks - 6.0: Showed a few nice touches but couldn't create the clear-cut chance his team needed to find an equalizer.

Manager

A. Iraola - 5.0: His team looked absolutely sensational for 25 minutes, but he'll be furious at how they threw away a 2-0 lead. They had no answer to Sunderland's second-half intensity. His side looked tactically lost and unable to regain control, which ultimately falls on the manager's shoulders.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Enzo