Sunderland vs Leeds United ended in a thrilling 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon. Dominic Calvert-Lewin continued his remarkable scoring form, finding the net for the sixth consecutive game. Meanwhile, Simon Adingra opened his account for Sunderland with an excellent curling strike in the first half.
The result keeps Sunderland unbeaten at home in the Premier League this season. Furthermore, they remain in seventh position in the table. Conversely, Leeds extended their unbeaten run to five matches but stayed in 16th place, needing more wins to climb higher.
A point apiece for Sunderland and Leeds as Regis Le Bris’s side maintain their unbeaten home record.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s seventh goal in six Premier League games earned a point for Leeds after Simon Adingra’s opener. pic.twitter.com/iDQjaKPcwx
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) December 28, 2025
Team Changes and Early Action
Manager Régis Le Bris made one change to his Sunderland lineup. Dennis Cirkin started his first league match of the season, replacing the injured Dan Ballard. Additionally, this marked Cirkin’s Premier League debut after recovering from injury. At the same time, Trai Hume made his 150th appearance for the club.
Leeds manager kept an unchanged team following their victory over Crystal Palace. Both sides started energetically, with Adingra forcing an early save from goalkeeper Lucas Perri.
Match Statistics:
| Team | Possession | Shots on Target | Corners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunderland | 48% | 4 | 6 |
| Leeds United | 52% | 5 | 7 |
First Half Goals
Sunderland broke the deadlock in the 28th minute through excellent teamwork. Granit Xhaka intercepted the ball outside the box and threaded a perfect pass to Adingra on the left wing. Subsequently, the winger curled a beautiful shot into the net, giving the hosts a deserved lead.
However, Leeds created several opportunities before halftime. Anton Stach tested goalkeeper Robin Roefs with a strong strike. Later, Brenden Aaronson nearly scored, but Trai Hume produced a brilliant goal-line clearance to preserve Sunderland’s advantage.
Brian Brobbey had two chances to extend the lead just before the break. First, he scuffed his effort from close range. Then, moments later, he sent a header crashing against the crossbar from Adingra’s cross.
Second Half Comeback
Leeds equalized quickly after the restart. Just two minutes into the second half, Aaronson charged forward on the right side and delivered a low pass. Calvert-Lewin stabbed the ball home for his eighth league goal of the season, maintaining his incredible scoring streak.
Following the equalizer, Leeds dominated possession and created numerous chances. Jayden Bogle nearly gave them the lead when his effort narrowly missed the post. Additionally, Ethan Ampadu unleashed two powerful strikes that required excellent saves from Roefs.
Late Drama
Both managers introduced fresh legs in the final stages. Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda came on for Sunderland, while Lukas Nmecha entered for Leeds. Despite these changes, neither team could find a winning goal.
Sunderland pushed forward late in the match. Mayenda had a shot blocked by determined defending. Furthermore, Omar Alderete headed over from a corner kick during stoppage time.
The draw maintains Sunderland’s impressive home record while extending Leeds’ unbeaten streak. Sunderland vs Leeds United proved to be an entertaining contest that showcased both teams’ attacking qualities, though neither could secure all three points in this closely contested Premier League encounter.
