Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Sunderland registered eight shots on target during a dominant first half

ByKeifer MacDonald
BBC Sport journalist

A wasteful Sunderland missed the chance to make it three wins from three in the Europa League as they were held to a draw by Lech Poznan.

After victories over AZ Alkmaar and Portuguese second-tier side Torreense in their opening two games, the Black Cats were reminded of the challenges of European football as they surrendered their lead in the final 20 minutes against the Polish champions.

Having slipped to the foot of the Premier League last weekend after suffering a fourth consecutive defeat, Sunderland initially showed little sign of feeling the pressure and took just two minutes to open the scoring in Poland.

Winger Nilson Angulo capitalised on a loose pass from goalkeeper Mateusz Lis before crossing for Timur Tutierov to head home his first goal for the club, with the striker deputising for the injured Wilson Isidor and Brian Brobbey.

Lech Poznan had a couple of chances to equalise during a chaotic opening period, but an impressive save from Robin Roefs kept Sunderland in front before the hosts' Daniel Hakans fired wide after being sent through on goal by Pablo Rodriguez.

Sunderland manager Regis le Bris was left wondering how his side had not extended their advantage before the break, with the visitors registering eight shots on target and Malick Fofana striking the woodwork.

The hosts should have punished Sunderland for their failure to convert earlier chances when the ball fell to an unmarked Leo Bengtsson at the back post shortly after the hour mark, but the substitute could not keep his volley on target.

But there was time for Bengtsson to make amends with 20 minutes remaining, finding space inside the area after some sloppy Sunderland defending to score Lech Poznan's first Europa League goal of the campaign with a sweetly struck half-volley.

After weathering a brief spell of pressure, Sunderland looked to have snatched a late winner for the second European away game in a row, but Chris Rigg's curling effort from outside the area whistled just past the post.

Next up for Sunderland in the Europa League is a home match against Dinamo Zagreb on November 5 (20:00 GMT), while Lech Poznan will travel to Benfica at the same time.

What did you think of Sunderland's performance?

Positives for Le Bris despite Sunderland's wastefulness

There is rarely a bad away point in European football, but Sunderland will feel they should be returning to the Stadium of Light with all three points.

After a dominant first-half display, the Black Cats looked a different side from the one that has struggled for both form and confidence in the Premier League this season.

Angulo and Fofana provided flashes of attacking brilliance from either flank, and at times Sunderland threatened to overwhelm their opponents. But their failure to turn that dominance into goals ultimately cost them their perfect start in Europe.

There were, of course, mitigating circumstances. Manager Le Bris was without first-choice strikers Brobbey and Isidor, as well as experienced defenders Thomas Meunier and Dan Ballard, leaving him short of options as his side's energy faded in the second half.

The draw does little to derail Sunderland's hopes of reaching the Europa League knockout stages, but the bigger test await in the Premier League.

Le Bris will hope the quality and intensity his side showed in spells in Poland carry over into domestic action, starting against Leeds United on Sunday.

Player of the match

Number: 1 M. Lis
Average rating 6.61
Number: 1 M. Lis
Average Rating: 6.61
Number: 11 D. Håkans
Average Rating: 6.40
Number: 43 A. Kozubal
Average Rating: 6.37
Number: 9 M. Ishak
Average Rating: 6.35
Number: 21 Pablo Rodríguez
Average Rating: 6.31
Number: 2 Joel Pereira
Average Rating: 6.04
Number: 15 M. Gurgul
Average Rating: 6.03
Number: 59 T. Yegbe
Average Rating: 5.97
Number: 14 L. Bengtsson
Average Rating: 5.95
Number: 10 P. Wålemark
Average Rating: 5.93
Number: 22 R. Murawski
Average Rating: 5.93
Number: 72 M. Skrzypczak
Average Rating: 5.79
Number: 5 G. Berggren
Average Rating: 5.60
Number: 24 F. Jagiełło
Average Rating: 5.58
Number: 77 L. Palma
Average Rating: 5.57
Number: 7 Y. Agnero
Average Rating: 5.35

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.