Le Fee's penalty sends Sunderland to Europa League win in first European match for 53 years

Enzo Le Fee’s composed penalty gave Sunderland a 1-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday, marking the Black Cats’ first European match in 53 years with a winning return to the continental stage.

The Frenchman had been central to much of Sunderland’s best work throughout the night, rattling the post with a first-time strike in the first half before being fouled by substitute Weslley Patati in the box midway through the second. Le Fee stepped up himself and coolly dispatched the ball into the bottom right corner in the 66th minute to settle the tie.

Sunderland dominated the opening 45 minutes, with Kevin Danso’s curling shot from distance clawed away by AZ goalkeeper Jari De Busser and Omar Alderete nodding wide from the resulting corner. Wilson Isidor and Trai Hume also went close, while De Busser was kept busy parrying away efforts from Le Fee and scrambling away Hume’s shot from a tight angle.

Alkmaar improved after the break and came closest to levelling when Kees Smit weaved into the box and rolled an effort narrowly past the post. The Dutch side pressed late, with Valdemar Andreasen having two efforts blocked and Mexx Meerdink seeing a shot stopped by Robin Roefs, but Sunderland held firm.

Manager Regis Le Bris made four changes from Saturday’s Premier League defeat to Arsenal, handing starts to Alderete, Hume, Malick Fofana and Isidor. AZ rotated two players from their last Eredivisie outing, bringing in Smit and Ayoub Oufkir.

Sunderland’s next Europa League fixture takes them away to Torreense next month as they look to build on an opening result that few clubs in their position — promoted from the Championship just last season — could have anticipated delivering.