Sunderland start Europa League journey with narrow win against AZ Alkmaar

[p]In a bristling, searing atmosphere inside a sold-out Stadium of Light, the pre-match fireworks and light show were spectacular, but having waited over half a century for this occasion, patience was a virtue for the home fans.[/p][p]A poor pass from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/le-fee-enzo/hC5yfF2A/"]Le Fée[/a] handed possession to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/az-alkmaar/2RxOow1i/"]AZ[/a] deep inside [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sunderland/WSzc94ws/"]Sunderland[/a] territory, and allowed Ro-Zangelo Daal in on goal, but home goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/roefs-robin/Ao7TtUZn/"]Robin Roefs[/a] raced out to deny the Dutchman.[/p][embed guid="bacd6407-ffd2-45b8-a28c-ed3fd3e1d9b8" url="https://x.com/Flashscorecom/status/2100327793590489229" social-type="twitter" /][p]Slowly the men from Wearside began to dominate, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/danso-kevin/z1MBQMNN/"]Kevin Danso[/a]’s swirling long-range effort having to be tipped over by AZ goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-busser-jari/WUMz0fU1/"]Jari De Busser[/a].[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="9d026308-04df-414e-bda5-57621c43de44" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="df4754f9-4bc7-46ea-9c38-167226e1d7e2" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]Midway through the first half came Sunderland’s most promising moment, when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/isidor-wilson/veOg2tx3/"]Wilson Isidor[/a] escaped down the right wing and found Le Fée with a low cross, and the Frenchman’s shot wrong-footed De Busser but crashed against the post and away from danger.[/p][p]The start to the second half was explosive, as first [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/smit-keet/G0KFeND3/"]Kees Smit[/a] dragged his shot wide from a promising position inside the Sunderland box.[/p][infobox id="1daf5f3a-88e4-4258-9684-38d198827b0e" /][p]Seconds later at the opposite end Isidor slashed his shot wide after a sumptuous pass from Le Fée, and shortly after the Frenchman would be the protagonist in Sunderland taking the lead.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/weslley-patati/4Qz3uVNq/"]Weslley Patati[/a]’s desperate lunge in the AZ box felled Le Fée, who dispatched the subsequent spot-kick with ease. [/b][/p][p]Despite Le Fée’s magical attacking performance, Sunderland’s victory was sealed with defensive heroics in the final 10 minutes.[/p][image alt="Momentum" id="635ab90f-bb31-4bd6-ac40-351c91961e1e" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="d8daac73-c005-45d9-a85d-3e9b20a46c38" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]In a frantic scramble in the penalty box, Danso and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ballard-daniel/b7is4eSG/"]Dan Ballard[/a] made last-ditch blocks before Roefs denied [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/meerdink-mexx/OjqNXAED/"]Mexx Meerdink[/a] from close range.[/p][p]It proved to be the Dutch side’s last promising moment, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/leao-rafael/AqOPWN5s/"]Régis Le Bris[/a]’ side hung on to write their names in club folklore.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/le-fee-enzo/hC5yfF2A/"]Enzo Le Fee[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sunderland/WSzc94ws/"]Sunderland[/a])[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/az-alkmaar-2RxOow1i/sunderland-WSzc94ws/summary/stats/?mid=tS8KzAA7"]Catch up on the match stats with Flashscore[/a][/b][/p]