Sunderland kept alive their hopes of playing in major European competition for the first time since the 1970s as they came from behind to beat Everton.

The Black Cats, who won promotion last season via the play-off final at Wembley, played a few games in the Uefa Cup Winners' Cup in 1973-74, but have been without major European football for 42 years.

But they are now ninth and go into next Sunday's final match, at home against Chelsea, still in with a chance of finishing as high as seventh.

At the end of a drab first half, the hosts took the lead as Merlin Rohl's strike from the edge of the penalty area took a big deflection off Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka with the ball looping over away goalkeeper Robin Roefs.

But Sunderland's performance improved and they got a deserved equaliser with Brian Brobbey scoring, holding off James Tarkowski and finishing well following Enzo le Fee's pass.

However, Everton boss David Moyes will be fuming as the goal came after a mis-control from Jake O'Brien saw the ball bounce away from him to lose possession.

In the 81st minute, Enzo le Fee scored to put the away side in front after Everton failed to clear a ball played into the penalty area. Le Fee then celebrated by putting on a black Spiderman mask, which had been given to him by one of the supporters.

The visitors sealed the three points in the 91st minute when unmarked substitute Wilson Isidor converted at the back post from Habib Diarra's cross.

What a dream season it has been for Regis le Bris' Sunderland side on their return to the top flight for the first time since dropping out of the Premier League in 2016-17.

They then fell from the Championship and had a four-year spell in League One, but now are potentially 90 minutes from securing European football.

Sunderland's win, which takes them above Everton, leaves them ninth, one point behind Brentford in eighth and two points behind Brighton in seventh, although Chelsea in 10th have a game in hand on the Black Cats.

With Manchester City beating Chelsea 1-0 in Saturday's FA Cup final, that means seventh in the Premier League would qualify for the Europa League, with eighth place going into the Conference League.

Sunderland's season has already seen them gain home and away wins over fierce rivals Newcastle and they have also beaten Chelsea and drawn with Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United.

They have not finished in the top nine in English football since 2000-01, when they came seventh.

What an occasion it promises to be at the Stadium of Light next Sunday when they entertain Chelsea.

The talk before the game was about departing Everton captain Seamus Coleman, who has said he will not be playing for the club next season after 17 seasons there.

Republic of Ireland full-back Coleman, 37, joined as a 20-year-old for only £60,000 from Irish side Sligo Rovers in 2009 and has gone on to become Everton's leading appearance maker in the Premier League era.

He came on to a standing ovation as a substitute in the 88th minute for his 434th Toffees match, moving ahead of Dixie Dean and Leon Osman in 10th spot in the club's all-time appearances list.

However, he could not inspire an Everton recovery as Sunderland added a third goal three minutes later, with the Toffees dropping to 12th and with their own European hopes all but ended.

Coleman then was given a guard of honour after the match by his team-mates, although a large number of home supporters and all the away fans had already left the ground.

"I arrived here as a 20-year-old boy from Sligo Rovers, just hoping to impress enough to even make one appearance for Everton," said Coleman. "To go on and become captain and set a new club record for most Premier League appearances is something that back then was beyond my wildest dreams.

"After such a big decision to end my period as a player here, I will take some time to decide what comes next. The club and the manager have been brilliant with me and there is an opportunity to stay here in a coaching role, but I will take a break with my family, play the games for the Republic of Ireland over the summer and then decide what comes next for us."

Everton play at relegation-threatened Tottenham on the final day but would need a large win and a number of results to go their way to have any chance of European football.

There was a lovely moment before the game started as fans from both Everton and Sunderland teamed up to remember Bradley Lowery, who died aged six in July 2017.

Sunderland fan Bradley touched the lives of football supporters across the country a few years ago.

He was diagnosed with neuroblastoma - a rare type of cancer - when he was 18-months-old. Bradley went on to be Sunderland's club's mascot and became friends with his hero, striker Jermain Defoe.

On what would have been Bradley's 15th birthday, a large banner was unveiled behind one of the goals, with fans from both sides helping move the banner into place, with it getting a huge round of applause, along with a loud 'One Bradley Lowery' chant.

That chant was then heard again in the 15th minute, along with a standing ovation as his picture was displayed on the two large screens at either end of the stadium.