Sunderland saw their perfect start to the Europa League campaign come to an end as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Lech Poznan in Poland on Thursday. The Black Cats, who had won their previous two group matches against AZ Alkmaar and Torreense, opened the scoring early but were unable to maintain their advantage against a resilient home side.

Regis Le Bris’s team struck within the first two minutes when Timur Tutierov headed in Nilson Angulo’s cross following a loose pass from Lech Poznan goalkeeper Mateusz Lis. The early goal set the tone for a high-intensity match, with Sunderland dominating possession and creating numerous chances. Despite registering 11 shots on target throughout the game, the visitors struggled to convert their attacking opportunities.

Lech Poznan grew into the contest and applied sustained pressure, testing Sunderland’s goalkeeper Robin Roefs with a series of threats. Substitute Leo Bengtsson leveled the score in the 70th minute, capitalizing on a corner that was poorly cleared by the visitors. The Swedish attacker fired a low shot through a crowded penalty area to bring his side back into the contest.

Both teams had additional opportunities in the closing stages, with Roefs making a crucial save to deny Michal Gurgul from close range. Sunderland pushed for a winning goal, but key finishes were off target, including efforts from Malick Fofana and Patrik Walemark. As a result, the match ended in a draw, preserving Sunderland’s unbeaten streak in European competition this season but halting their winning momentum.

Following the game, Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris acknowledged his team’s failure to capitalize on chances and the need for greater balance and precision in pressing. “After the first goal, they showed quality to play through our block and create chances. We deserved to score a second goal, but we didn’t, and then they came into the game,” Le Bris said. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the team’s identity, stating, “We want to stay true to our identity, be proactive and press when it is on to do it. We want to press high, but we are learning.”

Sunderland’s return to competitive action after a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League showed marked improvement in their European performance, but their inability to convert chances remains an area for development. The Black Cats remain positioned to advance from the Europa League group but will need to sharpen their finishing in upcoming fixtures to maintain their strong start in the competition.