Sunderland marked their first European game in 53 years with a 1-0 win against AZ Alkmaar in a historic game. Europa League clash on Wearside.
The Black Cats had not played in Europe since their 2-0 loss in Lisbon to Sporting in the 1973 Recopa.
Micky Horswill was the last Sunderland player to score in Europe before Enzo le Fee’s penalty provided a gutsy and deserved victory for the side who finished seventh in the Premier League last season.
The key moment came when the lively Le Fee was hauled down after a devastating counter-attack, and he got up and calmly slotted his shot into the bottom corner.
Backed by a deafening home crowd, Regis Le Bris’ side dominated the opening 45 minutes with a wasteful finish preventing a bigger lead.
Le Fee hit the woodwork in anger before the interval before Sunderland were forced under substantial pressure and looked to be hanging on in the closing stages before AZ’s intensity finally waned.
The Black Cats missed late chances to make the scoreline emphatic.
Elsewhere, there were wins for Benfica, Lyon and Bayer Leverkusen, and the competition continued on Thursday night.
Wednesday’s Europa League results
Ararat 1-4 Sparta Prague
Omonia Nicosia 1-0 Celta Vigo
AC Milan – Benfica 0-2
Anderlecht 1-2 Lyon
Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Celje
Hapoel Be’er Sheva 0-0 Dinamo Zagreb
Olympiakos 2-1 Jagiellonia Bialystok
Sturm Graz 0-0 Rennes
Sunderland 1-0 AZ Alkmaar
