SUNDERLAND have earned a new title this season, kings of scoring late.
Brian Brobbey’s spectacular overhead equaliser against have struck in added time, underlining their knack for last-gasp drama.
Brian Brobbey scored a brilliant overhead kick to earn his side a point against Arsenal in extra timeCredit: NurPhoto via Getty Images
Richarlison thought he’d scored the winner for his side in extra time against Man UnitedCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Matthijs de Ligt towered above everyone to score late in the game against TottenhamCredit: Reuters
Regis Le Bris’ promoted surprise package have already gained five points in added time from their first 11 matches, thanks to late winners against and , plus Saturday’s dramatic draw at the Emirates.
They’re not alone in benefiting from the extra seconds, though.
The Premier League has seen a surge in stoppage-time goals, up almost 50 per cent this season and are leading the charge.
Last season saw 105 goals scored across first and second-half stoppage time, averaging 0.28 goals per game.
This term, there have already been 45 stoppage-time goals in the first 110 matches, most of them in the second half, for an average of 0.41 per game.
Should that trend continue, there will be an extra 51 goals scored after the 90-minute mark over the full campaign.
The rise is no coincidence. Long throws are back and they’re stretching matches by more than a minute on average.
From fewer than two per match last season, there are now around four throws travelling at least 20 metres into the box per game.
Players are drying the ball with towels and waiting for team-mates to crowd the penalty area, forcing referees to pause their stop-watches to stop time being wasted.
That has had a major effect on the clock. Across last season’s 380 games, refs, following PGMOL guidance to allow 30 seconds for goal celebrations before stopping the watch, played an average of nine minutes and 45 seconds of added time per match.
This season, that has risen by 63 seconds to 10 minutes and 47 seconds.
Officials believe those extra moments are largely down to the delays caused by long-throw routines, and they’re proving decisive.
This weekend alone, Spurs and United both scored in stoppage time at the Stadium, while and Brentford also grabbed late winners and Sunderland’s dramatic equaliser denied Arsenal victory.
Arsenal, , Spurs and Brentford have each scored four goals in added time, while and have conceded five.
, and Wolves and Leeds have suffered the most frustration both seeing three points slip away in stoppage time.
But when it comes to the dying minutes, Sunderland stand alone at the top, turning extra time into their kingdom.
