For more than five decades, Sunderland supporters had been waiting for this moment.
The Stadium of Light was finally preparing to welcome European football again, and the occasion carried far more meaning than an ordinary football match. Sunderland had not played in European competition for 53 years, making Wednesday night’s Europa League clash with AZ Alkmaar a historic night for the club.
But after all the build-up, all the memories and all the expectations, Sunderland still had to do something important on the pitch.
They had to win.
And they did.
Sunderland defeated AZ Alkmaar 1–0 at the Stadium of Light, with Enzo Le Fée scoring the decisive penalty in the second half. The result gave Régis Le Bris’ side a winning start to their Europa League campaign and gave the supporters another unforgettable night to remember.
A NIGHT SUNDERLAND FANS HAD BEEN WAITING FOR
The atmosphere around the Stadium of Light was always going to be different.
European football had been away from Sunderland for more than half a century. The club’s last European appearance had come back in 1973, meaning an entire generation of supporters had grown up without seeing their team compete on the continent.
That made the occasion against AZ Alkmaar special before the first whistle was even blown.
The players also understood what was at stake.
This was not simply another fixture added to the calendar. It was Sunderland’s opportunity to begin a completely different chapter in the club’s modern history.
And the Black Cats made sure the night ended with three points.
SUNDERLAND STARTED WITH PURPOSE
From the opening stages, Sunderland showed that they were not interested in simply enjoying the occasion.
They wanted to compete.
The hosts created opportunities during the first half and controlled important periods of the game, although they could not find the breakthrough before the interval.
AZ Alkmaar also showed why they were a serious opponent. The Dutch side arrived with quality and threatened Sunderland after the break, with Kees Smit going close when he fired narrowly wide.
The longer the game remained goalless, the more important the next opportunity became.
One moment could decide the entire night.
Eventually, that moment arrived.
ENZO LE FÉE BECOMES THE HERO
The decisive moment came in the second half.
Sunderland were awarded a penalty after Weslley Patati was penalised for a foul inside the area.
Standing over the ball was Enzo Le Fée.
The French midfielder had already experienced the disappointment of missing from the penalty spot against Arsenal just a few days earlier.
This time, however, there was no mistake.
Le Fée stepped up and converted the penalty to give Sunderland a 1–0 lead. The goal came in the 66th minute according to match reports and proved to be enough to secure victory.
For Le Fée, it was an important response.
For Sunderland, it was a historic goal.
And for the supporters inside the Stadium of Light, it was the moment they had been waiting decades to see.
AZ REFUSED TO GIVE UP
Sunderland still had work to do after taking the lead.
AZ Alkmaar pushed forward looking for an equaliser, and the home side had to show another side of their game.
It was no longer about creating chances.
It was about protecting the advantage.
Sunderland’s defence remained organised, while goalkeeper Robin Roefs also played an important role as AZ searched for a way back into the contest.
The Dutch side had opportunities, but Sunderland managed to survive the pressure and protect their narrow advantage.
When the final whistle arrived, the scoreboard still read Sunderland 1–0 AZ Alkmaar.
The job was done.
A PERFECT EUROPEAN RETURN
The significance of the result goes beyond the three points.
Sunderland had waited 53 years to return to European competition, and their first night back ended with a victory.
That is a remarkable way to begin the campaign.
The supporters had come to the Stadium of Light hoping to witness history.
Instead, they witnessed history and a win.
Reports also highlighted Sunderland’s ability to create the better chances during the game, despite AZ having periods of possession. Sunderland finished with five shots on target compared with two for the visitors, according to Sofascore’s match data.
The result therefore was not simply about surviving a difficult opponent.
There were positive signs in Sunderland’s overall performance.
LE BRIS WILL KNOW THERE IS STILL MORE TO COME
Despite the celebrations, Régis Le Bris will know that one Europa League victory does not settle everything.
Sunderland created opportunities but could have made the game more comfortable by taking more of their chances.
Once they scored, they were forced to deal with pressure from AZ.
That will be something Le Bris and his coaching staff can examine before Sunderland’s next European fixture.
But managers would usually prefer to analyse those issues after winning rather than after dropping points.
For now, Sunderland can celebrate.
They have three points.
They have a clean sheet.
And they have started their European adventure with a victory.
THE XHAKA FACTOR
Another major talking point surrounding Sunderland’s European campaign is the presence of Granit Xhaka.
The experienced midfielder brings a level of European experience that can be valuable to a squad returning to continental football after such a long absence.
On a night when the occasion could easily have overwhelmed younger players, Sunderland needed experienced heads to help manage the game.
Xhaka’s presence gives Le Bris another player capable of helping the team navigate difficult moments as the Europa League campaign develops.
And there will certainly be more difficult moments ahead.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
That is where things become interesting for Sunderland.
Winning the opening game puts the Black Cats in a positive position, but the Europa League league phase is not decided by one match.
There are more opponents, more travel and more pressure waiting.
Sunderland’s next European assignment will come away from home against Torreense, meaning the players will have to adapt to another environment after enjoying the incredible atmosphere at the Stadium of Light.
The challenge will be to take the confidence from this victory and carry it into the next match.
That could be one of the biggest tests of Le Bris’ squad.
SUNDERLAND HAVE GIVEN THEIR FANS SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN
There is a bigger story behind this victory.
Sunderland have travelled a long road to get back to this stage.
Now, after 53 years away from European competition, they have returned and immediately put three points on the board.
The name of Enzo Le Fée will go into Sunderland’s European history after his penalty became the difference against AZ Alkmaar.
But this was not just Le Fée’s night.
It belonged to the supporters.
It belonged to the players.
It belonged to everyone connected with Sunderland who had waited so long to see this club back on a European stage.
The first chapter has now been written.
And it started with a 1–0 victory.
The question now is what Sunderland will do with it.
Because after waiting 53 years to return to Europe, the Black Cats will not want this to be remembered as simply one special night.
They will want it to be the beginning of something much bigger.
