Stephen Walker scored two penalties to help Middlesbrough beat Sunderland 3-2 in Premier League 2 Division 2 as both sides were reduced to 10 men.
Benjamin Mbunga-Kimpioka fired Sunderland ahead from the spot on 24 minutes after Lee Connelly had been fouled.
Two minutes into first-half stoppage time, Boro equalised when Walker converted his first penalty before he scored his second spot-kick eight minutes after the break.
Substitute Rumarn Burrell made it 3-1 on 64 minutes from Isaiah Jones's cross before Connelly pulled a goal back for the hosts with eight minutes remaining.
Mbunga-Kimpioka and Djed Spence were then both sent off in the sixth minute of added time.
Sunderland remain bottom after a fourth straight defeat while Boro are fourth, three points behind leaders Manchester United.
See: Sunderland report | Middlesbrough report
Next fixtures
Sunderland: 22 Sep v Swansea (A)
Middlesbrough: 20 Sep v West Ham (H)