Wilson Isidor secures Sunderland win over Fulham

Wilson Isidor scored the match-winning goal as Sunderland defeated Fulham at Sunderland on 30 August 2026 in a Premier League match. The decisive strike came after a second-half combination with substitute Habib Diarra and handed Sunderland their first victory of the season while leaving Álvaro Arbeloa's side pointless.

The encounter was cagey in the opening 45 minutes, with Sunderland's Noah Sadiki delivering a commanding central midfield display; the Democratic Republic of the Congo international quelled multiple Fulham threats and left home goalkeeper Robin Roefs largely untested. Fulham's only clear first-half opportunity arrived when Josh King miscued from a tightly angled chance created by Alex Iwobi, and despite dominating possession Sunderland failed to carve out cutting openings, keeping Bernd Leno relatively untroubled. Both managers, Régis Le Bris and Álvaro Arbeloa, had decisions to consider at the interval as the match remained finely poised.

Sunderland owner Kyril-Louis Dreyfus watched from the stands as the game exposed why Le Bris remains keen to recruit a specialist right-winger and another striker before the transfer window closes. Le Bris did have Nordi Mukiele available again after injury, a restoration Le Bris will have welcomed given the defensive demands posed by Fulham.

Mukiele underlined his importance early in the second half when his sliding challenge denied Gonzalo García a near-certain goal after Sander Berge's incisive through pass. García, who had scored in each of his first two competitive games since joining Fulham from Real Madrid, found Sunderland's rearguard difficult to break down.

Sensing a need for greater attacking impetus, Le Bris introduced Habib Diarra and Wilson Isidor for Nilson Angulo and Brian Brobbey. Enzo Le Fée then produced a first-time cross that Isidor struck against the base of the post, and minutes later Diarra supplied another delivery across the box from which Isidor's velocity beat Leno.

Diarra's cameo was curtailed by injury and he was replaced by Chris Rigg, but by that point the two substitutes had altered the game's momentum and secured the outcome. At the final whistle Álvaro Arbeloa appeared pensive while Régis Le Bris looked relieved.

Isidor's goal not only provided Sunderland with their first win of the season but also ended the club's 17-year run without a Premier League victory against Fulham, leaving Arbeloa's side still without a point.