Sunderland completed one of the Premier League season's most extraordinary stories on Sunday, beating Chelsea 2-1 at the Stadium of Light to claim a UEFA Europa League place in their first campaign back in the top flight since returning to the Premier League.

The Black Cats needed victory and a favour from elsewhere — and they got both. Brighton's defeat to Manchester United allowed Regis Le Bris's side to climb to seventh on the final day, securing European football for the first time since 1974.

Chelsea, meanwhile, slumped to a 10th-place finish — their lowest league standing since the 2022/23 season when they ended 12th — and will spend next season without European football altogether.

Hume fires the hosts in front

It was Sunderland who set the tempo from the opening whistle, pinning Chelsea deep in their own half throughout the first period. The pressure told in the 25th minute when goalkeeper Robin Roefs launched a long ball forward, Luke O'Nien flicked it into the channel, and Trai Hume met it with a toepoked volley that squeezed past Robert Sanchez at the near post.

Chelsea offered little in response, and Cole Palmer — playing with something to prove after his World Cup omission — wasted a glorious opening inside the first five minutes before fading from the contest.

Gusto's nightmare own goal kills the game

The second goal arrived five minutes into the second half and owed plenty to misfortune. Bryan Brobbey, who had squandered a clear chance moments earlier, saw his wayward effort strike Malo Gusto and deflect into the Chelsea net. The Stadium of Light erupted — so much so that advertising hoardings were brought down as supporters flooded onto the touchline to celebrate with the players.

Palmer briefly offered Chelsea a lifeline in the 56th minute, ending a 14-game goal drought with a composed low drive to halve the deficit. Nerves flickered around the ground. They did not last long.

Fofana red card seals Sunderland's night

Any realistic hope of a Chelsea comeback was extinguished in the 62nd minute when Wesley Fofana collected a second bookable offence and was dismissed. Ten men and a goal down, Calum McFarlane's side — visiting with little apparent appetite for the contest — could not find a way back into the match.

When the final whistle sounded, an emotional rendition of Can't Help Falling in Love echoed around the Stadium of Light as Sunderland's players and supporters celebrated a Europa League berth that caps a fairytale first season back in the Premier League.