The Sunderland Echo and The Northern Echo have both praised Roefs for his ability to hold AZ at bay in the second half, with the Sunderland Echo stating that he made a 'very important reason' in each half when AZ was almost sure to score. The Northern Echo agrees that Roefs' performance was crucial for the win, highlighting his saves on Ro-Zangelo Daal in the first half and Mexx Meerdink in the second half as particularly important.
In contrast, the English press has been less enthusiastic about the performance of Sunderland's substitute Brian Brobbey, with The Northern Echo stating that he missed some sharpness for the goal and did not come close to a goal-scoring opportunity. The Sunderland Echo also expressed similar criticism, stating that Brobbey was more of a threat than Wilson Isidor in terms of physical presence, but did not come close to a goal-scoring opportunity.
The praise for Roefs' performance is a testament to his ability to make crucial saves and help his team secure a win.