Sunderland Beat Brentford 3–2 to Reach Cup Last Eight

Sunderland reached the Carabao Cup quarterfinals with a 3–2 victory over Brentford at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday, protecting an advantage built by three goals in 13 first-half minutes.

Chemsdine Talbi, Timur Tutierov and Malick Fofana put the home side 3–0 ahead. Callum Wilson replied before halftime and Igor Thiago scored in stoppage time, but Brentford could not complete the comeback.

Ta Bi’s role in the scoring burst

Jocelin Ta Bi supplied the final pass for all three Sunderland goals. His influence on the right helped turn a difficult opening spell into a decisive scoring burst.

The official Brentford report records early chances for the visitors, including efforts that hit the crossbar and post. Those opportunities passed without a goal before Sunderland took control of the scoreline.

Talbi finished on the goal line in the 26th minute after Ta Bi’s shot. Tutierov converted a pullback three minutes later, and Fofana headed in the third in the 39th.

Wilson reduced the deficit in the 42nd minute, finishing after Jaidon Anthony’s cross and a loose ball in the penalty area. Sunderland goalkeeper Melker Ellborg then stopped him from adding another before the interval.

How Sunderland resisted the comeback

Brentford continued creating opportunities after halftime. Luke O’Nien cleared one Thiago header off the line, while Sunderland also had chances to relieve the pressure by extending the lead.

Thiago eventually converted Mathias Jensen’s delivery in stoppage time. The goal narrowed the margin to one, but it arrived too late for Brentford to produce the further equalizer they needed.

The result rewarded Sunderland’s efficiency during the brief period that shaped the match. Brentford’s late goals changed the final score without erasing the damage from conceding three times before halftime.

Sunderland will visit Crystal Palace in the quarterfinals during the week beginning December 14. Brentford’s cup campaign ends in the fourth round after a comeback that fell one goal short.