I just watched Sunderland's dramatic Europa League win and this is what I made of their performance

For so much of this game, it looked as if the start of Sunderland’s great European adventure might fall a little flat.

They had laboured against a spirited Torreense side, who took a shock lead shortly before half time after a quiet outrageously good strike from their Brazilian centre-back. Régis Le Bris had to turn to his experienced players having rung the changes but their impact was immediate, Jules Ahoka thriving in a more advanced position to equalise. Sunderland pushed and in the end their fans had the moment of delirium they craved, Noah Sadiki thumping in a brilliant late hit to secure three more league phase points.

A heavily rotated Sunderland side started brightly without necessarily fashioning any big chances, Luke O'Nien nodding a corner just wide before Nilson Angulo drove a low cross into the six-yard box that was just inches beyond the outstretched boot of Tutierov.

On a poor pitch and with so many unfamiliar partnerships, it wasn't a great surprise to see Sunderland struggling for fluidity but thy were lacking a little bit of presence in the final third and though they had control of the game Torreense were relatively comfortable in their defensive shape. Sunderland had the ball in the net midway through the half and it looked like it would a dream moment for Tutierov, but the referee had blown for a foul at the front post as O'Nien launched in a long throw that was flicked on towards the youngster. VAR quickly cleared the referee's decision but Le Bris and his staff were left exasperated on the touchline, the fourth foul that had gone against them from set plays early on.

Torreense had offered little, and it was perhaps a reflection of Sunderland's season so far that their first shot of the game flew into the top corner with Robin Roefs left rooted firmly to the spot. It was a genuinely stunning goal, centre-back Volnei attacking space before cutting inside and taking aim. The scoreline was harsh on Sunderland, but left them in a difficult spot as the Portuguese side quickly began to take time out of the game. Sunderland went into the second half badly needing to up the intensity and work the opposition goalkeeper.

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Though Sunderland looked a little more dangerous in the early stages of the second half, it was no surprise to see Le Bris make four subs on the hour mark as he turned to his established players to try and turn the tide. It should be said that they had been denied by some superb goalkeeping not long before, Paes doing brilliantly to claw away Angulo’s goalbound header from a good Rigg cross.

The changes had the desired effect within minutes, Nordi Mukiele beating his man and putting an excellent cross into the heart of the box. Ahoka, now playing in a slightly more advanced position, got ahead of his man and nodded it into the far corner to the delight of the away support. The goalkeeper should probably have saved it, but made amends moments later when denying Ahoka again with a brilliant save from close range before Rigg’s follow-up was cleared just in front of the line. The energy and the intensity of the game had been transformed.

Sunderland thought they had a late penalty when Tutierov was bundled over in the box, but an offside flag put an end to the celebrations. In a bizarre twist, it turned out that Tutierov was onside but the referee wa told he should overturn his decision.

A draw looked like the most likelt result but Sunderland were able to find one more moment of quality, a clever dink from Le Fee controlled well and turned across goal by Xhaka. Sadiki met it and thumped home, a game that was perhaps tougher than it ought to have been ending in delight for Sunderland and their 4,000 fans.

Le Bris’s changes had worked, not just in the quality the standout Xhaka brought but in adding real energy at full back and quality in the channels. It was hard work, but for the supporters worth every second at the end.

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