Darren Bent scores twice for Charlton against Sunderland in Premier League opener
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 13, 2026, 5:00 AM
Last updated Aug 13, 2026

On August 13, 2005, Sunderland faced Charlton Athletic in their Premier League opener at the Stadium of Light. After a slow start, Sunderland equalized through Andy Gray, but Darren Bent scored two goals for Charlton, including a late effort to seal their victory. Despite entering the match with some optimism, Sunderland struggled against Charlton, who controlled much of the game. The result marked a disappointing start for Sunderland and raised questions about their season ahead under manager Mick McCarthy.
- •Sunderland returned to the Premier League after promotion.
- •Charlton took an early lead with a goal from Darren Bent.
- •Sunderland equalized through Andy Gray before halftime.
- •Charlton's Danny Murphy scored a free-kick to regain the lead.
- •Bent secured the win with a second goal in injury time.
- 5:00 AMYahoo Sports — On This Day (13 August 2005): Mick’s Luck Runs Out As Ex-Transfer Target Nets A Double
"Twenty-one years ago, Sunderland returned to the Premier League with spirits high — but it didn’t take long for the early-season optimism to evaporate…
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