Chemsdine Talbi proved to be the match‑winner when his expertly placed chip secured Sunderland's 1‑0 triumph over Hull City in the third round of the Carabao Cup. The encounter at the Stadium of Light was relatively subdued, with both Premier League outfits struggling to create clear-cut chances for most of the ninety minutes. It was only in the 71st minute that Talbi’s precise finish broke the deadlock, guaranteeing the Black Cats a place in the competition's fourth round, scheduled for the end of October. Regis Le Bris opted for a massive overhaul ahead of the tie, making eleven alterations to the line‑up that had drawn 1‑1 with Brentford the previous weekend.
Among the newcomers were Dayann Methalie and Jules Ahoka, who earned their first senior appearances, while Malick Fofana made his full debut after coming off the bench in the Brentford match. On the opposite side, Sergej Jakirovic also reshuffled his squad, introducing eight fresh faces after a goalless stalemate with Aston Villa. Newcomers for Hull included Mohamed‑Ali Cho, Sorba Thomas and Robinio Vaz, all of whom started the game. Early on, Sunderland pressed forward.
Goalkeeper Dillon Phillips was called into action almost immediately, stretching to tip Jocelin Ta Bi's cross over the bar. A few minutes later, Phillips made a solid save to deny Ahoka's header, as the hosts tried to carve out an early lead.
Hull responded with a series of corners, each of which was cleared by the Sunderland defense, and the first half settled into a quiet rhythm with neither side managing to trouble the opposing keeper. Sunderland's first real chance came when the ball found teenage midfielder Chris Rigg, who slipped a pass to winger Jocelin. Unfortunately, Jocelin mishit his effort, sending it wide of the target.
Talbi then made a darting run into the box, forcing Phillips into a low save before Ahoka unleashed a long‑range strike that sailed over the crossbar. Just before the halftime whistle, Hull’s Robinio Vaz attempted a low‑angle shot, but it was comfortably gathered by Sunderland’s keeper Melker Ellborg. The second half began with Sunderland continuing to press.
Wilson Isidor rose to meet a cross and headed the ball onto the underside of the net, only for it to bounce out, while Rigg curled a free‑kick that drifted harmlessly wide. Hull made a triple substitution in the 59th minute, hoping to inject fresh energy. Shortly after, Thomas earned a free‑kick that was comfortably saved by Ellborg, maintaining Sunderland's clean sheet.
The decisive moment arrived with roughly nineteen minutes left on the clock. Hull had earned a corner, but instead of a defensive clearance, the ball fell to substitute Thomas Meunier, who flicked it across the six‑yard box. Talbi timed his run perfectly, surged past the Hull back line and, with composure beyond his years, chipped the ball over Phillips. The ball nestled into the bottom corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance and sending the Sunderland supporters into jubilation.
After taking the lead, Sunderland sought to extend their advantage. Isidor tried to curl a shot but it drifted off target, and later substitute Timur Tutierov blasted an attempt over the bar. Hull, now chasing the game, pressed for an equaliser. Former Black Cat loanee Joe Gelhardt found himself in a promising position inside the box but mis‑hit his effort, sending it over the crossbar.
Meanwhile, Cho’s attempt from a corner also went wide, and Sunderland were able to see out the remainder of the match without further incident. Post‑match, Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris reflected on the performance: "It's really positive. We know this window can talk and we can have different conversations about the future.
Now it's done, it's really clear. I was also interested by this new position because I feel Talbi can play off the left and play off the right. He showed in the past he can be a good winger but also just under the striker. He has this space and this ability to exploit big spaces.
Even after 50 or 60 minutes he stayed composed to finish. He had this first chance just at the end of first half and the second one was fantastic.
With 11 changes it's clear that it's not easy to find the references. We trained together but the reality is always the competition.
The beginning of the second half was much better, we imposed our intensity and we scored, which was important. After that, the last part of the game they pushed a bit, but we stayed solid." Hull City’s boss Sergej Jakirovic offered his perspective: "I think we played a 50‑50 game today. We had some good actions, Sunderland also had some good actions. Maybe this goal we conceded we had to be better organised.
Long ball, but great finishing in the end. Maybe we had the best chance in the game tonight through Gelhardt, so maybe we feel we can score that.
Unfortunately we didn't and congratulations to Sunderland." The victory propels Sunderland into the next round of the Carabao Cup, where they will await their upcoming opponent later in October. Both managers will now turn their attention to the league fixtures ahead, with Le Bris likely to continue rotating his squad to keep players fresh, while Jakirovic will look to tighten Hull's defensive shape after the narrow defeat.
The match also highlighted Talbi’s growing importance to the Sunderland side, showcasing his versatility and calmness in front of goal—qualities that could see him feature more prominently as the season progresses.