AZ also won the second game in the Eredivisie. Despite a super fast goal, AZ managed to win the match against Sparta Rotterdam. At Het Kasteel, the team triumphed 3-2.
AZ experienced a dramatic start to the match. The Alkmaarders received a goal from Vito van Crooij after just 8 seconds. The linesman initially flagged for offside, but that was corrected by VAR. That equaled the fastest Eredivisie goal in history, because Van Crooij scored just as quickly as Koos Waslander, who in 1982 also managed to find the net after 8 seconds.
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Jansen’s team was not upset by the goal, however. AZ won 7-0 against Dundee United last Thursday and also increasingly imposed the will on Sparta. That led to several chances, but the equalizer was not forthcoming for a long time. In the end, AZ needed a penalty to put the 1-1 on the scoreboard. Vangelis Pavlidis remained extremely calm towards former AZ goalkeeper Nick Olij, leveling AZ.
Even after the break, AZ was the dominant party. Less than fifteen minutes after the break, Dani de Wit put his team ahead. The attacking midfielder convincingly made a pass from the left: 1-2. It was only able to enjoy that deserved lead for two minutes, as Van Crooij scored his second of the afternoon for Sparta. The winger walked away from Milos Kerkez’s back and shot in the 2-2. The Hungarian left-back corrected his mistake within two minutes, as he was in the right place to make the 2-3. The final offensive of Sparta failed to materialize, after which AZ easily crossed the line.
Next Thursday, AZ will play in the play-offs for the Conference League. The Alkmaarders then meet Gil Vicente from Portugal. Next Sunday, NEC will be the opponent in the competition at 14.30.
AZ setup: concealed; Hatzidiakos (Witry/66), Beukema, Martins Indi, Kerkez (M. De Wit/66); Clasie (Koopmeiners/81), Reijnders, D. De Wit; Evjen, Pavlidis (Barasi/78), Van Brederode (Lahdo/66)