Sunderland completed a stunning late comeback to beat Torreense 2-1 in Leiria, Noah Sadiki scoring in the third minute of stoppage time to give the Black Cats a second straight Europa League win on their first European away trip since 1973.
Portuguese second-tier side Torreense, playing their first-ever European home match, led through Volnei Feltes on 37 minutes and dreamed of another famous scalp. But Regis Le Bris changed the game with a quadruple substitution just before the hour, Jules Ahoka heading the equaliser on 67 minutes before Sadiki — the DR Congo midfielder — sparked wild scenes in the away end at 90+3. The key events are logged on Sky Sports.
Feltes gives the underdogs a famous lead
Torreense had to move this fixture to the Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa in Leiria because their own ground does not meet UEFA standards, but nothing about their first-half performance looked out of place. Compact, brave and roared on by a crowd living every minute of a landmark night, Luis Tralhao's side struck eight minutes before the break, Feltes finishing from Amine Oudrhiri's assist to put the second-division club in front.
Sunderland, rotated heavily from their Premier League side, huffed without hurting. Nilson Angulo carried their clearest threat, but Lucas Paes was rarely extended and the visitors went in trailing, facing the very real prospect of a humbling defeat.
Le Bris changes everything from the bench
The turning point arrived on 59 minutes. Le Bris made four changes at once — Granit Xhaka, Nordi Mukiele, Reinildo Mandava and Enzo Le Fee all coming on — and the game tilted instantly. Eight minutes later Mukiele crossed and Ahoka headed the equaliser, a goal made entirely by the substitutes' bench and the manager's nerve.
From there it was one-way traffic. Sunderland finished with 21 shots to Torreense's three and nine corners to two, camped in the home half as Xhaka dictated the tempo. The confirmed line-ups and team news before kick-off, carried by 101 Great Goals, had underlined the gulf in resources — but for 67 minutes, Torreense had mocked it.
Sadiki breaks Portuguese hearts at the death
Just when the hosts thought they had their point, Xhaka turned provider and Sadiki struck at 90+3, sparking bedlam among the thousands of travelling supporters. There were no red cards, only heartbreak for Torreense and relief for Sunderland, whose perfect start mirrors the momentum building in Europe for English clubs — a theme of Crystal Palace's recent comeback win over Nottingham Forest and their own European campaign.
So what does it mean?
Sunderland move onto six points from two games after beating AZ Alkmaar 1-0 on matchday one, and a first away win of the season — in any competition — could be a turning point for a side sitting 17th in the Premier League. Torreense stay on three points after their 2-1 win at Lillestrom, and their story is far from over: this club beat Sporting CP in the Taca de Portugal final to get here, a giant-killing heritage shared by Portuguese sides covered in our Sporting CP coverage. The guaranteed European income, worth at least 5 million euros, still transforms their future.
Beyond the Final Whistle: Le Bris won this game. Four substitutes at once is a gamble that looks reckless at 1-0 down and genius at 2-1 up — and both of Sunderland's goals came from the men he sent on or the men they supplied. Torreense were magnificent for an hour, but depth is the Europa League's cruellest currency, and Sunderland finally spent theirs. This could be the night their season turned.
Was the quadruple substitution the bravest call of the European season so far — and can Torreense still reach the play-offs from here? Let us know in the comments.
