“Enzo Le Fée steps up and converts the penalty himself, sending Sunderland ahead 1-0.”
Pivotal
Sunderland
AZ Alkmaar
Outstanding performance
Sunderland•MidfielderSunderland made do with less of the ball but more purpose, out-shooting AZ Alkmaar 20-11 and doubling them up on corners as they pressed for openings all night. AZ controlled possession and passing but couldn't turn territory into cutting edge, and their profligacy came back to bite them when Weslley Patati brought down Enzo Le Fée in the box just two minutes after coming on as a substitute. Le Fée made no mistake from the spot to settle a game that had been short on genuine quality but full of physical competition, with five bookings scattered across both sides. For Sunderland it's a statement result against a side with continental pedigree, while AZ will rue their wastefulness in the final third despite creating four big chances of their own.
How entertaining was this match?
Reinildo Mandava from Sunderland is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Weslley Patati from AZ commits a foul.
Sunderland win a corner after Dave Kwakman concedes.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 3 minutes of added time.
Foul committed by Chris Rigg of Sunderland.
Ro-Zangelo Daal from AZ wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Nilson Angulo's right-footed shot from the center of the box for Sunderland is blocked.
Sunderland wins a corner after Mateo Chávez concedes.
Nordi Mukiele from Sunderland wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Jizz Hornkamp of AZ.
Attempt missed. Weslley Patati from AZ takes a left-footed shot from the center of the box.
Substitution for Sunderland: Chris Rigg comes on for Kevin Danso.
Substitution for AZ: Jizz Hornkamp comes on for Mexx Meerdink.
Substitution for AZ: Calvin Stengs comes on for Lewis Schouten.
Enzo Le Fée commits a foul for Sunderland.
Dave Kwakman from AZ wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Valdemar Byskov from AZ has a right-footed shot from the center of the box, but it is blocked.
Valdemar Byskov from AZ has a right-footed shot from the center of the box, but it is blocked.
Attempt saved. Mexx Meerdink's left-footed shot from the center of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Sunderland wins a corner after Elijah Dijkstra concedes.
Thomas Meunier from Sunderland is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Mateo Chávez from AZ commits a foul.
Substitution for AZ: Dave Kwakman comes on for Jordy Clasie.
Attempt blocked. Ro-Zangelo Daal from AZ has his right-footed shot from outside the box blocked.
Nordi Mukiele from Sunderland commits a foul.
Mateo Chávez from AZ is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Nordi Mukiele from Sunderland commits a foul.
Ro-Zangelo Daal from AZ wins a free kick on the left wing.
Nordi MukieleYellow CardNordi Mukiele from Sunderland receives a yellow card for a foul.
Attempt blocked. Valdemar Byskov from AZ has a right-footed shot from outside the box that is blocked. Lewis Schouten provided the assist.
Nordi Mukiele from Sunderland misses a close-range header to the left, assisted by Granit Xhaka's cross after a corner.
Sunderland win a corner after Lewis Schouten concedes.
Substitution for Sunderland: Nilson Angulo comes on for Wilson Isidor.
Substitution for Sunderland: Thomas Meunier comes on for Trai Hume.
Substitution for Sunderland: Brian Brobbey comes on for Malick Fofana.
Goal! Enzo Le Fée scores for Sunderland with a right-footed shot from the penalty, making it 1-0 against AZ.
Penalty awarded to Sunderland as Enzo Le Fée is fouled in the penalty area.
Weslley PatatiYellow CardWeslley Patati from AZ receives a yellow card for a foul.
Weslley Patati of AZ concedes a penalty after committing a foul in the penalty area.
Elijah Dijkstra from AZ is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Wilson Isidor from Sunderland commits a foul.
Malick Fofana from Sunderland commits a handball.
Substitution for AZ: Valdemar Byskov comes on for Kees Smit.
Enzo Le Fée from Sunderland is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Mateo Chávez from AZ commits a foul.
Attempt blocked. Mexx Meerdink from AZ has his left-footed shot from the center of the box blocked. Mateo Chávez provided the assist.
Trai Hume from Sunderland misses an attempt with a header from the center of the box, sending it too high. The cross was assisted by Nordi Mukiele.
Attempt saved. Trai Hume from Sunderland has his right-footed shot from the center of the box saved.
Nordi Mukiele from Sunderland has a right-footed shot from the right side of the box, but it is blocked.
Substitution for Sunderland: Dan Ballard comes on for Omar Alderete due to an injury.
Attempt missed. Wilson Isidor from Sunderland takes a right-footed shot from the center of the box that goes close but misses to the right. Enzo Le Fée provided the assist.
Kees Smit from AZ had a left-footed shot from the left side of the box that was close but missed to the right. He was assisted by Mexx Meerdink.
AZ win a corner after Omar Alderete concedes.
Lewis Schouten from AZ is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Malick Fofana from Sunderland commits a foul.
Weslley Patati from AZ has a left-footed shot from outside the box, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded to AZ after Reinildo Mandava concedes.
The second half begins with the score at Sunderland 0, AZ 0.
Substitution for AZ: Weslley Patati comes on for Ayoub Oufkir.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 1 minute of added time.
Attempt missed. Enzo Le Fée from Sunderland takes a right-footed shot from long range on the right, but it goes close and misses to the right. Nordi Mukiele provided the assist.
Kevin Danso from Sunderland misses a header from the left side of the six-yard box, sending it close but to the left. Granit Xhaka provided the assist.
The first half ends with Sunderland and AZ tied at 0-0.
Granit Xhaka from Sunderland misses an attempt with a left-footed shot from outside the box.
Sunderland wins a corner after Lewis Schouten concedes.
Nordi Mukiele's header from the left side of the six-yard box for Sunderland is blocked.
Omar Alderete of Sunderland is caught offside.
Sunderland win a corner after Mexx Meerdink concedes.
Sunderland win a corner, conceded by Mexx Meerdink.
Sunderland win a corner after Jari De Busser concedes.
Foul committed by Ayoub Oufkir of AZ.
Enzo Le Fée of Sunderland wins a free kick on the left wing.
Ayoub OufkirYellow CardAyoub Oufkir from AZ receives a yellow card for a foul.
Ro-Zangelo Daal from AZ wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Nordi Mukiele of Sunderland.
Nordi Mukiele from Sunderland has his right-footed shot from the right side of the box blocked.
Enzo Le Fée of Sunderland is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul committed by Lewis Schouten of AZ.
Kees Smit from AZ commits a foul.
Noah Sadiki from Sunderland wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed by Trai Hume from Sunderland, who took a right-footed shot from outside the box.
Omar Alderete commits a foul for Sunderland.
Omar AldereteYellow CardOmar Alderete from Sunderland receives a yellow card for a foul.
Kees Smit from AZ is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Wouter Goes from AZ wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Wilson Isidor of Sunderland commits a foul.
Attempt missed. Granit Xhaka from Sunderland takes a left-footed shot from outside the box that goes close but misses to the right.
Enzo Le Fée from Sunderland hits the right post with a right-footed shot from the center of the box, assisted by Wilson Isidor's cross.
Foul committed by Peer Koopmeiners of AZ.
Trai Hume from Sunderland is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
AZ wins a corner after Wilson Isidor concedes.
Trai HumeYellow CardTrai Hume of Sunderland receives a yellow card for a foul.
Mateo Chávez from AZ is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Trai Hume from Sunderland commits a foul.
Foul committed by Peer Koopmeiners of AZ.
Noah Sadiki from Sunderland is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Kees Smit from AZ is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Omar Alderete commits a foul for Sunderland.
Foul committed by Ayoub Oufkir of AZ.
Reinildo Mandava from Sunderland is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Omar Alderete's header from close range is blocked. The attempt was assisted by Enzo Le Fée's cross.
Sunderland win a corner after Lewis Schouten concedes.
Attempt saved. Kevin Danso's right-footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top center of the goal by Jari De Busser. Malick Fofana provided the assist.
Sunderland wins a corner after Jari De Busser concedes.
Attempt missed. Trai Hume from Sunderland had a right-footed shot from the center of the box.
Attempt saved. Enzo Le Fée from Sunderland has a right-footed shot from the right side of the box, but it's saved in the center of the goal by Jari De Busser from AZ.
Reinildo Mandava from Sunderland is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Mexx Meerdink of AZ.
Foul committed by Kevin Danso of Sunderland.
Wouter Goes from AZ is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Robin Roefs (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
Sunderland win a corner after Wouter Goes concedes.
Enzo Le Fée from Sunderland is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul committed by Peer Koopmeiners of AZ.
Attempt missed. Mexx Meerdink's header from the center of the box is just a bit too high. Wouter Goes provided the assist with a headed pass after a corner.
AZ wins a corner after Kevin Danso concedes.
Attempt saved. Ro-Zangelo Daal from AZ has a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it's saved in the bottom left corner by Robin Roefs of Sunderland. The assist came from Kees Smit.
AZ wins a corner after Robin Roefs concedes.
Mexx Meerdink from AZ is awarded a free kick on the right wing.
Omar Alderete from Sunderland commits a foul.
First half begins.
Sunderland step into continental competition for the first time in over 50 years, hosting a free-scoring AZ Alkmaar side at the Stadium of Light. Fresh off a home defeat to Arsenal, the Black Cats will look to turn a raucous European atmosphere into a statement result against Dutch opponents who've been banging in goals all season.
