Sunderland Hero Luke O'Nien Enjoys Rare Milestone In 'Special' Europa League Win

Sunderland defender Luke O’Nien enjoyed yet another milestone in his eight-year Black Cats career against Torreense on Thursday evening. 

Sunderland beat Torreense 2-1 in their first Europa League away fixture of the season, with Regis Le Bris’ side coming from a goal behind to clinch the victory in injury time. 

Torreense defender Volnei scored a stunning opener with an emphatic long-range effort to see the Portuguese second tier side go into the interval one in front. 

However, Sunderland were much improved in the second half, seeing young talent Jules Ahoka net his first Black Cats goal with a deft header, with his DR Congo compatriot Noah Sadiki also opening his account for the club with a superlative strike in 90+3’ to send the travelling Wearside faithful into raptures. 

It was an imperative and momentous win in Sunderland’s story of resurgence, and it will have been particularly emotive for captain O’Nien, who led the Black Cats out to victory whilst achieving an outstanding and extremely rare milestone. 

Following the Europa League victory over Torreense in Leiria, O’Nien became the first player since 2004/05 to make 100+ appearances in each of the Championship (135), League One (149) & League Two (101) before then playing in a major European competition for an English club (as per OptaJoe data).

This magnificent moment for O’Nien is not only another feather in the Sunderland hero’s red-and-white cap, but equally signifies another milestone in the Black Cats’ renaissance of which the defender has been critical too. 

Fan-favourite O’Nien, affectionately dubbed ‘Mr. Sunderland’ by the Black Cats faithful given his eight-year standing association at the club, has now seen the Black Cats rise from the depths of League One to winning on European soil, and not without merit. 

Against Torreense, O’Nien enjoyed a stellar performance on his first Europa League appearance, with the central defender enjoying the most touches (75) of any player on the field, making three defensive contributions and winning seven of eight aerial duels to help keep Sunderland sturdy at the back as the Black Cats successfully searched for goals in the second half. 

Reacting to the historic Sunderland win, O’Nien emotionally admitted that it was a “special evening” for those in red-and-white circles, with his Black Cats career reaching an incredible height that would have been unprecedented eight years ago when he arrived from Wycombe Wanderers at just 23-years-old.

O’Nien said: “To lead this incredible club out on a night like this was nothing short of incredible. League One to Europe with the club I love.

Sunderland face Bournemouth on Sunday in a return to Premier League action before travelling to Lech Poznan next Thursday, and veteran defender O’Nien will have done his selection hopes no harm with his milestone-earning performance in Portugal.