E. Le Fee’s penalty lifts Sunderland to seventh in Europa League

Sunderland opened their UEFA Europa League league-stage campaign with a 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar at the Stadium of Light. E. Le Fee’s 66th-minute penalty settled the match on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, and gave Sunderland three points from their first game.

Penalty decides a closely contested match

Neither side found the net during the opening 45 minutes. The first half included two Sunderland bookings, with T. Hume cautioned in the 22nd minute and O. Alderete shown a yellow card eight minutes later. AZ Alkmaar also received a booking before the interval, as A. Oufkir was penalised in the 39th minute.

The match remained goalless until the decisive moment in the 66th minute. E. Le Fee converted from the penalty spot to put Sunderland ahead. The goal gave the hosts the lead after a disciplined opening period and proved to be the only scoring action of the game.

Changes shaped the second half

AZ Alkmaar made the first change at half-time, replacing A. Oufkir with Weslley Patati. Sunderland then brought on D. Ballard for O. Alderete in the 52nd minute. AZ made another alteration in the 59th minute, with V. Byskov replacing K. Smit.

After Le Fee’s penalty, Sunderland refreshed three positions in the 67th minute. T. Meunier replaced T. Hume, B. Brobbey came on for M. Fofana, and N. Angulo replaced W. Isidor. Weslley Patati was booked in the 64th minute, before Sunderland’s N. Mukiele received a yellow card in the 72nd minute. Those cautions were the final listed disciplinary incidents, and AZ could not find an equaliser.

Sunderland start seventh in the league-stage table

The result places Sunderland seventh after one league-stage game. They have three points, one win, no draws and no defeats, with a goal difference of plus one. The victory also extends the significance of their listed pre-match form, which showed a win as their most recent result.

AZ Alkmaar sit 33rd on zero points after one match. Their record is one defeat, no wins and no draws, with a goal difference of minus one. Their listed pre-match form was a loss, and the narrow defeat leaves them without a point from the opening round. Le Fee was the match’s decisive figure, while Sunderland’s defensive discipline after taking the lead secured the clean sheet and the result.