Sunderland claimed their first European win for 53 years as Enzo Le Fée's second-half penalty proved the difference in a 1-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar.
Regis Le Bris' side were excellent against a team which came into the game unbeaten this season, having won five of their first six matches.
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After a stunning first season on their return to the Premier League, Sunderland have not exactly had it all their own way so far in their sophomore campaign.
The Black Cats began in the Premier League with a 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town as Jack Clarke, who signed for Ipswich from Sunderland in 2024, scored a last minute winner.
Le Bris' side bounced back the following weekend with a 1-0 win over Fulham courtesy of Wilson Isidor's second-half strike, but that remains their only league victory of the season as they followed it up with a 1-1 draw at Brentford and a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Stadium of Light.
They did at least manage a 1-0 win over Hull City in the Carabao Cup thanks to Chemsdine Talbi last Tuesday.
You have to go back to 1973 for the last time the Black Cats had played a game in Europe: a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup round of 16 tie against Sporting CP.
Mick Horswill scored the second as Sunderland won the first leg 2-1, but the English side were knocked out when they lost the return fixture 2-0 in Lisbon.
