Sunderland produced a dramatic second-half comeback to defeat Portuguese side Torreense 2-1 in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, October 15, 2026. Noah Sadiki scored the winning goal in the 93rd minute, completing a turnaround after the English club had trailed at halftime.
The victory came during Sunderland’s first competitive European away match in 53 years. It also preserved the Black Cats’ perfect start to the competition following their opening victory over AZ Alkmaar.
Torreense had threatened a major upset after defender Volnei Feltes struck from long range before halftime. However, Jules Ahoka equalized in the second half before Sadiki delivered the decisive goal in stoppage time.
Torreense Surprise Sunderland With Stunning Opener
Sunderland entered the match against opponents competing in Portugal’s second division. Torreense had earned their place in European competition through an unexpected domestic cup triumph, giving the club an opportunity to compete against more established teams.
The match was played at the Estádio Municipal de Leiria rather than Torreense’s regular home ground. Their Estádio Manuel Marques stadium has a capacity of approximately 2,431 and does not meet the requirements for hosting Europa League matches.
Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris made seven changes from his team’s previous Premier League fixture. Among the players initially rested were influential midfielders Granit Xhaka and Enzo Le Fée.
The changes gave several less experienced players an opportunity, although the visitors struggled to turn possession into meaningful attacking opportunities.
Torreense defended effectively and remained difficult to break down throughout the opening period. Despite Sunderland controlling stretches of possession, the Portuguese side appeared comfortable absorbing pressure and waiting for an opportunity.
That opportunity arrived when defender Volnei Feltes produced a spectacular long-range strike. His shot from approximately 20 yards flew into the top corner, putting Torreense ahead before the interval.
The goal transformed the atmosphere inside the stadium. Torreense suddenly had the prospect of defeating a Premier League opponent in one of the club’s most important European fixtures.
Sunderland entered halftime trailing 1-0 and facing the possibility of a damaging defeat against a side with considerably fewer financial resources.
Le Bris Makes Changes as Sunderland Fight Back
Sunderland needed a stronger response after the break, and Le Bris eventually turned to his substitutes to change the momentum.
The manager made four second-half substitutions, introducing players capable of bringing greater experience, pace and attacking quality into the contest.
Nordi Mukiele was among those introduced, and his arrival helped Sunderland threaten more frequently from wide positions.
The equalizer came when Mukiele delivered a cross into the penalty area for Jules Ahoka. The young Sunderland player moved into position and directed a header past the Torreense goalkeeper.
Ahoka’s goal brought Sunderland level and gave the visitors renewed confidence. The attacking substitutions had finally broken through a defensive structure that had frustrated them for much of the evening.
The equalizer also shifted the pressure toward Torreense, who had spent much of the match protecting their narrow advantage.
Sunderland continued attacking as the final whistle approached, searching for a winning goal rather than settling for a draw.
A late penalty appeal briefly offered another possible route to victory. However, following a video assistant referee review, the decision was overturned and no penalty was awarded.
The setback did not prevent Sunderland from maintaining their attacking pressure.
Noah Sadiki Delivers the Decisive Moment
The winning goal arrived three minutes into stoppage time through Noah Sadiki, whose powerful finish completed the comeback.
The move involved Enzo Le Fée and Granit Xhaka, with Xhaka providing the final touch that set up the opportunity. Sadiki reacted quickly inside the penalty area and struck a controlled half-volley beyond goalkeeper Lucas Paes.
The goal sparked celebrations among Sunderland’s traveling supporters and players, who had appeared in danger of leaving Portugal without a victory.
It was Sadiki’s first goal for Sunderland, making the moment particularly significant for the Democratic Republic of Congo international.
Speaking to UEFA after the match, Sadiki revealed that Xhaka had encouraged him to take the shot.
“Granit Xhaka told me to shoot. I didn’t think twice. I was waiting for it. I’m really happy,” Sadiki said.
The midfielder also praised his teammates for responding to the difficult position they faced during the match.
“I’m really happy for the team because we showed great mentality today. We were down but we came back,” he told UEFA.
His comments reflected Sunderland’s refusal to abandon their attacking approach despite spending much of the game behind.
Chris Rigg made sure Sadiki received recognition from his teammates during the celebrations following the final whistle.
Historic European Return Continues
Sunderland’s victory represents another important moment in their return to European football after more than five decades.
The club last competed in continental competition during the 1973-74 European Cup Winners’ Cup, following its famous FA Cup victory over Leeds United in 1973.
That campaign included three victories in four matches before Sunderland were eliminated by Sporting Lisbon.
Their latest appearance in Europe follows a remarkable revival that brought the club back into the Premier League and subsequently into continental qualification.
Sunderland qualified for the 2026-27 Europa League after finishing seventh in the Premier League the previous season.
Their European return began with a 1-0 home victory against AZ Alkmaar in September, secured through a penalty from Enzo Le Fée.
The victory over Torreense extended their winning start to two matches and six points in the league phase.
It also gave Sunderland five victories from their first six major European matches across the club’s history, an unusual achievement for an English team returning after such a lengthy absence.
With six points already secured, Sunderland have established a promising position in the 36-team league phase. However, six matches remain before the final standings determine which clubs advance directly to the round of 16 or enter the knockout playoffs.
The top eight teams qualify directly for the last 16, while teams finishing ninth through 24th contest an additional playoff round.
Other English Clubs Experience Mixed Results
Thursday’s European fixtures also produced contrasting results for other English teams.
Bournemouth celebrated their first European home victory with a 3-0 win over Austrian side Sturm Graz. Evanilson, Rayan and Álvaro Rodríguez scored as the Premier League club continued its impressive introduction to continental competition.
Crystal Palace suffered a 3-2 defeat against Lyon in France. Goals from Corentin Tolisso, Ernest Nuamah and Pavel Šulc gave the hosts an advantage that Palace could not overcome.
Brighton enjoyed a more comfortable evening in the Europa Conference League, recording a 4-0 victory over Lithuanian opponents Kauno Žalgiris.
Elsewhere in the Europa League, Benfica defeated Celtic 4-1 in Lisbon, while Juventus recovered to beat Celta Vigo 2-1.
AC Milan secured a 4-0 victory over Salzburg, inspired by a hat-trick from teenager Alphadjo Cissé. Bayer Leverkusen also won 4-0 against Lech Poznań, with Patrik Schick converting two penalties.
Those results demonstrated the range of challenges facing Sunderland during the league phase, where clubs from different domestic competitions compete for places in the knockout rounds.
Sunderland Turn Attention to Premier League
Despite the celebrations in Portugal, Sunderland must quickly return their attention to domestic football.
The Black Cats are scheduled to face Bournemouth in their next Premier League fixture before traveling to Poland to meet Lech Poznań in their next Europa League match.
Their domestic campaign has presented difficulties, including a recent defeat to Brighton. Sunderland will hope the confidence gained from their European comeback helps produce stronger performances in the Premier League.
Le Bris will also have important decisions to make about his starting lineup after the substitutions against Torreense proved decisive.
Ahoka’s equalizer and Sadiki’s late winner demonstrated the value of Sunderland’s younger players, while the contributions of Xhaka, Mukiele and Le Fée emphasized the importance of experienced substitutes.
For Torreense, the defeat was particularly painful after coming so close to a memorable European victory. The Portuguese club had maintained its lead for much of the match before Sunderland’s improved second-half performance turned the result around.
Sunderland leave Portugal with six Europa League points and an unbeaten record in the competition. Their next European challenge will come against Lech Poznań, with the club seeking a third consecutive victory as its long-awaited return to continental football continues.
respectively.
IMAGE: Belgian football player Noah Sadiki at Union SG in 2024. Photo: Sidney.Cortez / Wikimedia, taken 2024-05-26, CC BY-SA 4.0