Sunderland goalkeeper Jurgen Macho ensured a point for his side with a brilliant late save to redeem himself after West Ham launched a late blitz at the Stadium of Light.
The Austrian pulled off a superb stop from West Ham substitute John Moncur eight minutes from time to keep Sunderland level in an eventful encounter.
Debutant Julio Arca had got his Premiership career off to the perfect start by heading his side in front from a Kevin Kilbane cross after 25 minutes. But Macho was found wanting in the build-up to Davor Suker's equaliser seven minutes later as he failed to claim a Paolo di Canio corner.
Both Macho and opposite number Shaka Hislop were kept busy throughout the game, although the home keeper needed a little help from defender Jody Craddock late on after Michael Gray delivered a back-pass straight to di Canio's feet.
Sunderland, for whom both Niall Quinn and Kilbane were often menacing, enjoyed the best of the possession throughout the game, but the visitors always looked threatening on the break and a point apiece was just reward for a hard-fought 90 minutes.
SUNDERLAND: Macho, Makin, Gray, Hutchison, Craddock, Thome, Holloway, Quinn, Phillips, Kilbane, Arca. Subs not used: Marriott, Williams, Roy, Oster, Dichio. Booked: Phillips, Hutchison. Goal: Arca 25.
WEST HAM: Hislop, S Pearce, Stimac, Sinclair, Lomas, Lampard, Cole, Winterburn, Di Canio, Carrick, Suker (Moncur 67). Subs not used: Bywater, Peacock, Newton, Keller. Booked: Winterburn, Suker. Goal: Suker 32.
