Dramatic draw leaves Sunderland unable to overtake MU in the standings

(Football result) - Sunderland and Leeds battled fiercely in the 18th round of the 2025/26 Premier League, both teams netting a goal and sharing the points at the Stadium of Light.

On the evening of December 28 (Vietnam time), Sunderland hosted Leeds United at home as part of the 18th round of the 2025/26 Premier League season.After a tense 90 minutes, the two teams ended the game in a 1-1 draw, accurately reflecting the balanced contest throughout the match.

Right from the kickoff, Sunderland pushed their formation forward and quickly applied pressure. In the first minute, Simon Adingra took a swift shot from the edge of the penalty area, but Leeds' defense blocked it. However, the home side did not wait long to capitalize on their advantage. In the 28th minute, following a smooth combination, Granit Xhaka delivered a precise pass to Simon Adingra, who broke through and finished neatly to open the scoring for Sunderland at 1-0.

Conceding a goal forced Leeds to push their line higher. The Yorkshire team controlled possession more and continuously threatened through set-piece situations. Brenden Aaronson, Noah Okafor, and Anton Stach all had chances, but Sunderland’s defensive focus and goalkeeper Robin Roefs’ steady performance preserved the lead until halftime. The first half ended with several notable attacks from Sunderland, including a header by Brian Brobbey that hit the crossbar during stoppage time.

In the second half, Leeds started with determination and quickly equalized. In the 47th minute, Brenden Aaronson delivered a precise assist to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who slotted a diagonal finish to level the score at 1-1. This goal boosted the visitors’ morale, and they kept pressing with numerous shots from Ampadu, Tanaka, and Okafor, though most lacked accuracy or were blocked.

In the final minutes, Sunderland surged forward strongly. Omar Alderete nearly scored from a corner in the 85th minute, while substitutes Eliezer Mayenda and Romaine Mundle also made an impact. Nevertheless, neither side converted their chances, and the match concluded with a 1-1 draw.

This result gives Sunderland 28 points, placing them 7th on the league table, one point behind Manchester United and four points off the top 4. Leeds United sits 16th with 20 points, maintaining a relatively safe gap from the relegation zone.