Sunderland ended a 53-year wait for European football in the most emphatic fashion possible, beating AZ Alkmaar 1-0 at the Stadium of Light.
The night carried enormous significance, representing the club’s first European fixture since 1973 and their first ever appearance in the Europa League.
Flags filled the stands before kick-off, and the atmosphere around the Stadium of Light made it clear that Wearside knew it was witnessing something truly historic.
Regis Le Bris’ side showed no signs of being overawed, pressing aggressively, attacking with purpose, and creating enough chances to have settled things before the interval.
At the centre of almost everything was Enzo Le Fée, who earned a man of the match display that will live long in the memory of Sunderland supporters.
The 26-year-old registered a Sofascore rating of 9.1, attempted four shots, hit the woodwork once, won five fouls, and completed 12 duels across 90 minutes of relentless work.
He tested goalkeeper Jari De Busser, helped Sunderland circulate the ball through midfield, and struck the post after Wilson Isidor’s cut-back threatened to break the deadlock.
Kevin Danso also forced a good save, while Trai Hume threatened from range as AZ struggled to deal with sustained home pressure throughout the opening period.
The Dutch visitors improved after the break, with Kees Smit going close, and goalkeeper Robin Roefs was called upon to produce a superb series of late stops to preserve the lead.
The decisive moment arrived in the 66th minute when Le Fée was caught inside the area and took responsibility from the penalty spot himself.
That decision required genuine nerve, coming just days after his miss against Arsenal, but he sent De Busser the wrong way and found the bottom corner to spark huge celebrations around the ground.
Sunderland survived a frantic finish as Roefs and the defence stood firm to complete a historic opening-night victory in Europe.
Journalist Mark Douglas was among those moved to praise Le Fée after the performance, describing him as “one of the most underrated players in the Premier League” and suggesting his lack of wider recognition is surely about to change.
Le Fée can receive the ball in tight spaces, accelerate attacks with a single pass, and drift into positions that opponents find difficult to track or contain.
Just as importantly, he is willing to chase back and contribute the less glamorous defensive work that keeps Regis Le Bris’ system functioning effectively.
His relationship with the Sunderland head coach stretches back to their shared time at Lorient, and Le Bris clearly trusts him to shoulder responsibility when the biggest moments arrive.
That trust was fully rewarded on Wednesday night, as Le Fée stepped up to take the penalty rather than passing the responsibility to a teammate after his recent miss.
Sunderland have several prominent personalities and exciting young players in their squad, yet Le Fée consistently remains one of the most important figures in making their football work.
AZ did create enough danger in the closing stages to serve as a warning for the challenges that lie ahead in this European campaign.
But if Le Fée continues delivering performances of this quality, the argument that he remains underrated may soon become impossible to sustain.