Sunderland edge Hull City in Carabao Cup third round

Hull City's Carabao Cup run ended in the third round with a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland on Tuesday, 8 September 2026. Chemsdine Talbi's 71st-minute strike separated the sides at the Stadium of Light, with the Tigers unable to find an equaliser despite a late flurry.

  • Date: 8 September 2026
  • Opponent: Sunderland (away)
  • Competition: Carabao Cup, Third Round
  • Result: Sunderland 1-0 Hull City
  • Goal: Chemsdine Talbi 71'
  • Referee: Paul Tierney

Team news

Hull City starting XI: Phillips; Coyle, Mendy, Herrington, Targett; Gourna-Douath, Crooks; Thomas, Hjerto Dahl, Cho; Vaz.

Sunderland starting XI: Ellborg; Hume, Alderete, O'Nien, Methalie; Rigg, Ta Bi, Ahoka; Fofana, Talbi, Isidor.

Hull City substitutes: Egan (on for Mendy 45'), Gelhardt (on for Crooks 59'), Mouzakitis (on for Vaz 60'), Slater (on for Gourna-Douath 60'), Stroud (on for Targett 76'). Also on bench: Howard, Giles, Dowell, Zambrano.

Sunderland substitutes: Meunier (on for Methalie 65'), Browne (on for Fofana 79'), Tutierov (on for Isidor 79'), Proctor (on for Talbi 86'). Also on bench: Moore, Ballard, Whittaker, Sadiki, Jones.

What was said

No post-match quotes were available in the source article.

The numbers

Expected goals (xG) were almost identical: Sunderland 0.98, Hull City 0.97. Possession was close too, with Sunderland holding 51% to Hull's 49%.

Hull managed only one shot on target from seven attempts, while Sunderland had four on target from 14. Sunderland completed 366 passes (87% accuracy) against Hull's 328 (82%).

Hull goalkeeper Phillips made four saves, while Sunderland's Ellborg made one.

How to watch

The match was played on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. Broadcast details were not specified in the source.

Match analysis: Fine margins decide tight cup tie

Hull City produced a disciplined away performance but were undone by a moment of quality from Sunderland's Chemsdine Talbi, who scored with a right-footed shot from 21 metres following a fast break. The goal had an xG of 0.16, but Talbi placed it into the top-left corner, giving Phillips no chance.

The Tigers had their own chances. Substitute Joe Gelhardt came closest in the 82nd minute, firing wide from five metres with an xG of 0.65 – the highest of any single chance in the match. Earlier, Sorba Thomas forced a save with a free-kick from 29 metres, and Ryan Slater saw a shot blocked from a corner.

Defensively, Hull stood firm for long periods. Luke Coyle made two tackles and won five duels, while goalkeeper Daniel Phillips was kept busy, making four saves. The back line, featuring Coyle, Mendy, Herrington and Targett, limited Sunderland's clear-cut openings until the decisive strike.

Talking points

  • Gelhardt's late miss: The substitute had the best chance of the game but couldn't convert, summing up Hull's night in front of goal.
  • Set-piece threat: Hull had several corners and free-kicks but failed to make them count, with only one shot on target overall.
  • Competition exit: The defeat ends Hull's involvement in the Carabao Cup for this season, allowing them to focus on the Premier League.

What happens next

Hull City now turn their attention back to the Premier League, where they are competing in the 2026/27 season. Their next fixture was not listed in the source article.

Frequently asked questions

What was the score between Sunderland and Hull City?

Sunderland won 1-0, with Chemsdine Talbi scoring the only goal in the 71st minute.

When was the match played?

The match took place on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, in the Carabao Cup third round.

Who played for Hull City?

Hull City started with Phillips; Coyle, Mendy, Herrington, Targett; Gourna-Douath, Crooks; Thomas, Hjerto Dahl, Cho; Vaz. Substitutes included Egan, Gelhardt, Mouzakitis, Slater and Stroud.

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