Sunderland 1-0 AZ Alkmaar: Match Recap and Result

Sunderland beat AZ Alkmaar 1-0 in the Europa League at the Stadium of Light, a contest decided by a single goal from Enzo Le Fee after the interval. The home side had been the more threatening team for long spells and finally made the pressure count.

Match Summary

Neither side found the net before half-time. Sunderland collected early cautions, T. Hume in the 22nd minute and O. Alderete eight minutes later, as the game stayed tight and scoreless. AZ Alkmaar enjoyed more of the ball, yet the visitors were equally unable to break through. A. Oufkir was booked before the break, a snapshot of a first half that never quite opened up.

The second period asked more of both teams. Sunderland kept producing attempts, and the stalemate lasted until just after the hour. Weslley Patati was shown a yellow card, and the hosts struck two minutes afterward. Enzo Le Fee scored in the 66th minute to put Sunderland in front, the only goal the night would produce. N. Mukiele was cautioned later as the home side closed the game out. AZ Alkmaar could not turn their share of possession into a reply, and Sunderland saw out a 1-0 win.

Key Moments

The only goal of the night arrived after a long wait, which is why it decided the result rather than merely shifting an open game. Sunderland had already shown they could get shots away. Once they led, AZ Alkmaar needed a response they never produced. The visitors' extra share of the ball did not become a spell of sustained pressure in the closing stages. A further yellow card for N. Mukiele followed the goal, but neither side went down to ten players, and the 1-0 scoreline survived.

Match Statistics

AZ Alkmaar finished with 55 percent of possession to Sunderland's 45, but the shot count told a different story. Sunderland registered 19 attempts to 11 and put four on target against two. Expected goals favored the hosts as well, 2.32 to 1.49, which fitted a night when they needed only one finish. Corners ran 12 to 5 in Sunderland's direction. Five yellow cards were shown and no reds, three of them to the home side and two to AZ Alkmaar.