Sunderland made a winning start to their first Premier League campaign since 2016-17 as they deservedly beat West Ham at a raucous Stadium of Light.
Eliezer Mayenda, who scored in the Championship play-off final in May, nodded substitute Omar Alderete’s delivery into the corner shortly after the hour mark to spark wild scenes of jubilation among the home supporters.
It was another play-off hero who doubled Sunderland’s lead as Dan Ballard – who rescued Regis le Bris’ team in the semi-final first leg against Coventry – guided his header into the corner.
And Wilson Isidor put the icing on the cake in added time, beating Hermansen with a well-placed shot into the far corner.
The two teams were welcomed by a cauldron of noise before Sunderland’s first top-flight game in eight years, and fans had plenty to shout about after kick-off as both teams went close in a lively opening.
Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs did well to save West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen’s shot from a tight angle, while Mads Hermansen deflected a fierce Habib Diarra drive over the crossbar at the other end not long afterwards.
The Hammers sought to turn the screw as the first half progressed and were denied an opener when Ballard produced a magnificent sliding clearance from El Hadji Malick Diouf’s goal-bound shot.
The early stages of the second half were more subdued, but with the Hammers struggling to pose a threat in the final third, the hosts began to grow in confidence and the lively Diarra sent a powerful shot over the bar from just outside the area.
It was a warning West Ham failed to heed, as Mayenda steered a well-placed header past Hammers debutant Hermansen to open the scoring, before Ballard and Isidor added gloss to the scoreline on a memorable afternoon for LeBris and his players.
