Sunderland 1-0 AZ Alkmaar: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
Europa League Matchday 1 · Wednesday 16 September 2026 · Stadium of Light, Sunderland · referee J. Pignard · full time
Full time: Sunderland 1-0 AZ Alkmaar
Sunderland beat AZ Alkmaar 1-0 in Europa League Matchday 1 on Wednesday 16 September 2026 at Stadium of Light. The goals: Enzo Le Fée 66'.
How Sunderland won it
The opening goal came in the 66th minute: Enzo Le Fée from the penalty spot for Sunderland.
It was 0-0 at half-time, and the second half changed the result.
The referee, J. Pignard, showed 5 yellow cards: 3 to Sunderland and 2 to AZ Alkmaar.
Sunderland: R. Le Bris, 4-2-3-1 · AZ Alkmaar: L. Echteld, 4-2-3-1.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
Sunderland had 5 shots on target, AZ Alkmaar 2.
AZ Alkmaar had 55% of the ball, but Sunderland took the points.
Where the two sides stood before this match
Sunderland came into it with 1 Europa League matches played, scoring 1.0 and conceding 0.0 a match, with 2.93 expected goals for and – against, and had won 100% of their matches.
AZ Alkmaar came into it with 1 Europa League matches played, scoring 0.0 and conceding 1.0 a match, with 1.53 expected goals for and – against, and had won 0% of their matches.
Sunderland vs AZ Alkmaar: the match in numbers
| Sunderland | Match statistics | AZ Alkmaar |
|---|---|---|
| 45% | Ball possession | 55% |
| 20 | Total shots | 11 |
| 5 | Shots on target | 2 |
| 3 | Big chances | 3 |
| 383 | Total passes | 495 |
| 78% | Pass accuracy | 82% |
| 12 | Corners | 5 |
| 14 | Fouls | 13 |
| 1 | Offsides | 0 |
| 16 | Tackles | 11 |
| 2 | Saves | 4 |
| 3 | Yellow cards | 2 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland), rated 8.5 by Sportmonks, with 1 goal.
Sunderland
- Enzo Le Fée 8.5 1 goal
- Nordi Mukiele 7.5
- Granit Xhaka 7.4
- Trai Hume 7.2
- Robin Roefs 7.1
AZ Alkmaar
- Jari De Busser 7.3
- Elijah Dijkstra 7.2
- Mexx Meerdink 7.0
- Lewis Schouten 7.0
- Ro-Zangelo Daal 6.8
The lowest-rated starter was Ayoub Oufkir at 6.0. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- Sunderland: Sunderland vs Brighton & Hove Albion Saturday 10 October 2026 · Premier League
- AZ Alkmaar: AZ Alkmaar vs Hapoel Be'er Sheva Thursday 15 October 2026 · Europa League
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about Sunderland vs AZ Alkmaar
What was the score in Sunderland vs AZ Alkmaar?
Sunderland 1-0 AZ Alkmaar (half-time 0-0), Europa League, Wednesday 16 September 2026.
Who scored in Sunderland vs AZ Alkmaar?
Enzo Le Fée 66'.
Did Moneyball predict Sunderland vs AZ Alkmaar correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in Sunderland vs AZ Alkmaar?
Enzo Le Fée, rated 8.5 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed Sunderland vs AZ Alkmaar?
J. Pignard.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball Odds writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
Moneyball Odds is a statistical analysis site, not a bookmaker. No model predicts football reliably. For readers aged 18 and over.