Igor Thiago scored twice to continue his excellent recent form as Brentford swept Sunderland aside at Gtech Community Stadium to go fifth in the Premier League.
The striker’s double follows his hat-trick at Everton on Sunday and takes him to 16 league goals for the season – the most by a Brazilian in a single Premier League campaign.
He calmly rounded Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs to open the scoring after half an hour, then doubled Brentford’s lead in the 65th minute, nodding in from six yards after Kevin Schade had headed a deep cross back into the middle.
Yehor Yarmoliuk made sure of the points eight minutes later with a well-struck effort after the ball dropped to him six yards out from a corner.
Sunderland had had a huge opportunity to equalise early in the second half when Brian Brobbey was brought down in the box.
However, midfielder Enzo le Fee attempted to dink the ball down middle, Bees goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher didn’t move and had the simple task of catching the delicate effort.
It proved costly with Keith Andrews’ side quickly going on to take the game away from them and claim a deserved win.
Brentford’s fourth victory in their past five games extends their unbeaten run to six matches, boosting their hopes of European qualification.
Meanwhile, Sunderland suffer a first loss in six and have won only one of their past seven games.
There has been no shortage of fantastic Brazilian players who have excelled in the Premier League over the years.
From Juninho at Middlesbrough to Liverpool legend Roberto Firmino and plenty more between, you can now add the name Igor Thiago.
And Brentford’s 24-year-old frontman has now achieved something none of his countrymen has ever achieved.
After a torrid, injury-hit first season in England, Igor Thiago has been superb in his second and put in another dazzling display against Sunderland.
He began slowly but soon warmed to his task and after firing one warning shot just wide, raced on Vitaly Janelt’s through ball and showed all his composure to round the keeper and roll the ball into an empty net.
From that moment until he was replaced eight minutes from time, the striker did not give Sunderland’s centre-backs a moment of peace as he showed the all-round game – pace, power, clever link-up play – that has so impressed this year.
Schade should have scored from an Igor Thiago pass, hitting the bar with just the goalkeeper to beat, but moments later the German was rising to head to ball back towards the Bees’ number nine, who guided his header into the bottom corner.
That was the goal that moved him past Firmino, Gabriel Martinelli and Matheus Cunha to become Brazil’s most prolific scorer in a single season.
Quite the achievement – and if he keeps playing like this, there are sure to be more to come. In a wide-open Premier League, his contribution has put Brentford into a battle for Champions League qualification.
Sunderland’s performances this season – and the heights they have reached – would have shocked even the most optimistic Black Cats’ fan.
Depleted by injury and the loss of players to the Africa Cup of Nations, they have battled brilliantly during the hectic festive period but the game at Brentford proved one too many.
They were slow out of the blocks in west London with a number of sloppy passes from the back causing problems.
The first goal came after the ball was lost cheaply in midfield before one pass took out the entire backline.
It stayed at 1-0 until half-time and Regis le Bris’ side came out fighting to start the second half, putting pressure on the hosts for the first time and winning a spot kick when Brobbey rolled Kristoffer Ajer and was brought down.
Le Fee, who has performed so well for Sunderland this season, stepped up and attempted a Panenka.
Such cheeky efforts look great when they go in. Not so much when they don’t. This was surely the simplest of Kelleher’s four penalty saves in the top flight.
The Republic of Ireland international now has a 67% penalty save rate, the best of any goalkeeper to face five or more penalties in the Premier League.
It was a boost for Brentford that deflated Sunderland. If that had not already finished them off, the second and third goals soon afterwards did.
But with players beginning to return from Afcon, Sunderland will hope to get back on track before too long.
Brentford visit Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, 10 January (15:00 GMT), before visiting Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday, 17 January (15:00 GMT).
Sunderland travel to Everton in the FA Cup on Saturday (12:15 GMT), before hosting Crystal Palace in the league on Saturday, 17 January (15:00 GMT).
