Brighton Beat Sunderland 2-0 Despite Struijk Red Card

What changed

Brighton & Hove Albion beat Sunderland 2-0 at the Stadium of Light to preserve their excellent start to the Premier League season. They did it while playing much of the second half with 10 men after Pascal Struijk received a controversial red card.

Why it matters

The scoreline matters, but the shape of the win matters more. Brighton had to protect a two-goal advantage while short-handed, turning a routine-looking victory into a test of discipline and resilience.

For Sunderland, the home defeat leaves the match defined by a missed opportunity: Brighton were vulnerable for much of the second half, yet Sunderland could not turn the numerical advantage into a change on the scoreboard.

The red card may still carry consequences beyond this result, depending on whether it is upheld or overturned. For now, Brighton leave with three points, a clean 2-0 outcome, and another strong early-season result earned under pressure.