Sunderland secured a 1-0 victory against AZ Alkmaar in their first European match in 53 years, with midfielder Enzo Le Fee scoring the decisive penalty at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday. The win marked the start of Sunderland’s Europa League campaign with three points.

Le Fee, who had a penalty saved in Sunderland’s recent 2-0 Premier League defeat to Arsenal, redeemed himself by converting the spot-kick in the 66th minute. Manager Regis Le Bris praised the French midfielder’s determination and resilience following his rebound from the earlier miss.

“We trust him, he’s a good player. You can make mistakes because it’s the game,” Le Bris said. “The quality of a player is to react, to stay resilient, to show up again and Enzo is this kind of player.” Le Bris added that while Le Fee had a slow start in the match, he remains a key component of the squad with room for growth. “When he’s in a good place... he’s a fantastic player. He can link the play, create, score, and contribute defensively with the team.”

AZ Alkmaar manager Leeroy Echteld acknowledged the disappointment of conceding the penalty, suggesting his team had a strong opportunity to win otherwise. “It’s a very good experience to play in these kind of circumstances,” Echteld said. “I’m also very happy about my team because they were not so much impressed at the end. We have very young players but they can play against a very mature team like Sunderland with good players and support of the crowd. It makes me most proud that we show we can play.”

Reflecting on the penalty’s impact, Echteld remarked, “If we don’t concede the penalty, we have a big chance to win this game.”

The match highlighted Sunderland’s return to European competition after a lengthy absence and showcased Le Fee’s influence on the team’s performance. With this win, Sunderland takes an early lead in their Europa League group, while AZ Alkmaar looks ahead to their upcoming fixtures aiming to bounce back.