Everton 1-1 (0-3 pens) Sunderland: Robin Roefs makes himself a hero as Le Bris’ side progress to FA Cup fourth round

Robin Roefs saved three penalties to send Sunderland into the Fourth Round of the Emirates FA Cup, with a penalty shoot-out win over Everton on Saturday.

The game finished level after full time and extra-time, as Enzo Le Fee’s brilliant strike was cancelled out by James Garner’s late penalty.

However, Roefs denied Garner, Beto and Thierno Barry in the ensuing shoot-out to win Sunderland the game.

❌ James Garner
✅ Enzo Le Fée
❌ Thierno Barry
✅ Granit Xhaka
❌ Beto
✅ Luke O’Nien

The shootout that sent us to Round Four of the #EmiratesFACup 🍿👇 pic.twitter.com/89u59DVslN

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) January 11, 2026

The Black Cats had not reached the fourth round since 2023 and Regis Le Bris was hoping for a response from his players following Wednesday’s poor defeat at Brentford.

After returning from AFCON, Noah Sadiki returned to the starting XI, while Luke O’Nien made a rare start with Dan Ballard and Omar Alderete dropping to the bench.

Everton had the first chance of the game, when Harrison Armstrong’s half-volley narrowly flew over the bar.

Despite this, Sunderland took a deserved lead on the half-hour mark, when Nordi Mukiele’s long throw found Eliezer Mayenda, who set Le Fee up on the edge of the box. Le Fee’s first-time volley brilliantly found the bottom corner, with Jordan Pickford having no chance.

Sunderland looked to extend their lead before half time and almost did, as Romaine Mundle’s long-range effort was well saved by Pickford.

Le Bris’ side had the first major chance of the second half, when Le Fee’s through ball found Mayenda and despite being pushed wide by Jake O’Brien, he managed to produce a shot that narrowly went the wrong side of the post.

Substitute Thierno Barry had a great chance to level the game with only 10 minutes to go, as Dwight McNeil’s curling ball found him in space, but he was unable to direct the header on target.

Enzo Le Fée at his best 🕷️🤩 pic.twitter.com/N9FV90Fffc

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) January 11, 2026

With only three minutes to go, Everton were given a penalty when Trai Hume was seen to allegedly take down substitute Adam Aznou.

James Garner took the penalty and buried it into the bottom right corner, with Roefs guessing the right way but unable to keep it out.

Xhaka led Sunderland’s fury during the break, and Sunderland’s outrage looked to give them a new fleece of life, when within three minutes of the restart, Pickford was called into action. Mundle cut inside and found himself in space on the edge of the box and unleashed a powerful strike towards goal, but Pickford was equal to it.

Right at the end of extra time, Sunderland almost got the winner. Xhaka’s shot from outside the box was blocked in front of Pickford by James Tarkowski, with his deflection taking the shot just wide with Pickford being wrong-footed.

Roefs guessed the right way to push Garner’s opening spot-kick to safety, before Le Fee put his panenka drama behind him; coolly finding the top corner.

The Sunderland ‘keeper was equal to Barry’s weakly-struck penalty, before Xhaka smashed the visitors’ second penalty into the bottom corner.

After a stuttered run-up, Beto’s tamely-struck penalty was denied by Roefs – leaving the Black Cats on the brink of the fourth round – and O’Nien emphatically smashed the decisive spot-kick down the middle.

Sunderland return to Premier League action, as they face Crystal Palace at home on January 17.