Analysis: Bedlam at Stadium of Light
· Yahoo Sports
"Let's party."
That was the shout from the stadium announcer when telling the home supporters their team had qualified for the Europa League.
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In truth, the party had been ongoing hours before kick-off but it was bedlam by the end of the match, as fans held heads in hands in disbelief at their remarkable achievement.
It is only four years since the Black Cats were in League One, with Luke O'Nien and Trai Hume having been with them throughout the journey and combining here for the first goal.
This is also a team that was cleverly improved in a £163m summer transfer spend last year.
Having only gone up via the Championship play-offs, it is little surprise many predicted Sunderland would struggle.
In each of the previous two campaigns, all three promoted teams were relegated straight back to the Championship, so it would have been understandable if Sunderland had simply been content with finishing 17th.
However, despite playing down expectations of European qualification, head coach Regis le Bris – supported by owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and the club's aggressive recruitment strategy – has led the club into new territory.
Through the performances of captain Granit Xhaka and exciting new signings like Brian Brobbey, Lutsharel Geertruida and Robin Roefs, this side broke new ground.
They have become the first newly promoted team since Wolves in 2020, and only the fifth in the Premier League era, to qualify for Europe in the season after promotion.
It means Sunderland will return to continental competition for the first time in a generation, sparking jubilant scenes among supporters after a tense victory over one of England's biggest and wealthiest clubs.
It is undoubtedly a special time to be a Sunderland supporter, with trips to the continent to look forward to next season.