Aston Villa strengthened their position among the Premier League frontrunners after edging past Sunderland in a breathtaking 4–3 encounter on Matchday 33.

The game exploded into life almost immediately. Ollie Watkins put the hosts ahead inside just two minutes, only for Chris Rigg to respond seven minutes later with a well-taken equaliser. The tempo never dropped, and Watkins struck again in the 36th minute to restore Aston Villa’s lead.

Early in the second half, Morgan Rogers extended the advantage, making it 3–1 and seemingly putting Unai Emery’s side in full control. With the clock ticking down, Villa Park looked set to celebrate a routine win.

But Sunderland had other ideas. In a dramatic late twist, Trai Hume and Wilson Isidor struck within the space of a minute around the 86th mark, stunning the home crowd and levelling the score at 3–3.

Just as momentum appeared to swing away from the hosts, Tammy Abraham delivered the decisive blow. In the 90th minute, he found the net to seal a remarkable 4–3 victory for Aston Villa.

2025-26, England - Premier League

Aston Villa - Sunderland 4:3 (2:1)
Goals: Watkins, 2 (1:0); Rigg, 9 (1:1); Watkins, 36 (2:1); Rogers M., 46 (3:1); Hume, 86 (3:2); Isidor W., 87 (3:3); Abraham T., 90 (4:3)

Aston Villa: Martinez E.; Konsa; Mings; Maatsen I. (Digne, 70); Onana A.; Cash; Barkley (Buendia, 70); McGinn J. (Sancho, 80); Tielemans; Watkins (Abraham T., 80); Rogers M.
Substitution: Digne (from 70); Buendia (from 70); Abraham T. (from 80); Sancho (from 80)
Bench: Bizot; Lindelöf; Douglas Luiz; Bogarde L.; Bailey
Yellow Cards: Onana A. 90

Sunderland: Roefs; Alderete (Ballard, 63); Reinildo (Hume, 63); Mukiele; O'Nien; Diarra H.; Sadiki; Le Fée; Xhaka; Rigg (Talbi, 63); Brobbey (Isidor W., 84)
Substitution: Ballard (from 63); Hume (from 63); Talbi (from 63); Isidor W. (from 84)
Bench: Ellborg; Cirkin; Geertruida; Jones Har.; Mayenda
Yellow Cards: Sadiki 66; Ballard 90; Mukiele 90