Terry sent off as Chelsea lose at Sunderland

Sunderland 3 Chelsea 2

Sunderland came from behind twice to win at the Stadium of Light, where John Terry was sent off in what could therefore prove to be his final appearance for Chelsea.

Diego Costa put the visitors ahead and Nemanja Matic’s goal on the stroke of half-time restored their lead soon after Wahbi Khazri had equalised.

But relegation-threatened Sunderland hit back again in the second half, scoring twice in the space of three minutes to boost their chances of staying in the Premier League.

Former Chelsea man Fabio Borini equalised and Jermain Defoe netted what turned out to be the winner.

The Blues ended the match with 10 men after Terry’s injury-time foul on Khazri earned the skipper a second yellow card.

It means Terry, who has indicated that he will not be given a new contract when his current deal expires this summer, must serve a two rather than one-match ban as he was also sent off against West Brom earlier in the campaign.

That rules the Stamford Bridge legend out of the midweek trip to Liverpool and next weekend’s season finale at home to Leicester.

Sunderland made a determined start but were punished for failing to clear a corner after 14 minutes.

The ball dropped to Gary Cahill and he slipped the ball through for Costa, who finished coolly.

Khazri levelled with a brilliant strike from the edge of the penalty area but Sunderland switched off again, allowing Matic to collect Cesar Azpilicueta’s header and slide the ball through the legs of Vito Mannone with the final kick of the first half.

Keeper Mannone produced an important second-half save to deny Costa before the tide turned dramatically in the home side’s favour

Borini was set up by another former Chelsea man, Patrick van Aanholt, and the striker’s shot went in with the help of a deflection off Terry.

And when Deandre Yedlin’s cross was deflected into the path of Defoe, the ex-Tottenham forward fired home.