Sunderland beat Chelsea as Xhaka leaves injured

Sunderland beat Chelsea 1-0 in the Premier League on November 8, ending a seven-game league winless run, while captain Granit Xhaka left the match early with a suspected injury. Enzo Le Fée scored the only goal, converting a penalty in the 36th minute at the Stadium of Light.

Xhaka was replaced by Jules Ahoka in the opening minutes. Match accounts placed the substitution between two and four minutes into the game. One report described a suspected calf problem, but Sunderland had not confirmed a diagnosis or the severity of the injury. Tests were needed to establish the extent of the problem, according to that report.

The result ended a league stretch in which Sunderland had gone seven games without a win, losing five. They had last won a Premier League match against Fulham in August, according to a match preview published before the Chelsea game. After the victory over Chelsea, Sunderland had two wins, two draws and six defeats in the league.

Sunderland created chances before Le Fée’s penalty. Brian Brobbey had an effort go wide, and Trai Hume’s hooked strike was blocked. Chelsea’s Cole Palmer went down in the area, but a video assistant referee review determined that contact had...