AZ Alkmaar Win Europa League Thriller Courtesy Of Former Spurs Man

AZ Alkmaar began their Europa League campaign with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Elfsborg at home.

Their win was secured by a striker who has appeared for Spurs, Millwall and MK Dons, amongst others, giving them a perfect start to their campaign.

The Dutch side started strongly, creating early chances, but it was Elfsborg who took the lead in the 23rd minute through Timothy Noor Ouma. Despite a disallowed goal for the Swedes, AZ managed to level just before halftime when Ruben van Bommel capitalized on a goalkeeping error.

Early in the second half, Van Bommel struck again, but a mistake by AZ goalkeeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro allowed Elfsborg to equalize at 2-2.

AZ regained control, with former Spurs striker Troy Parrott netting the winning penalty after a foul on Jayden Addai. The Irish forward thought he had scored a second, but it was ruled out for offside. AZ’s defense held firm for the remainder of the match, securing a crucial victory to kick off their Europa League campaign.

Jordy Clasie Reflects on the Win

Jordy Clasie, who was instrumental throughout the match, commented on the team’s determination: “It wasn’t our best performance, but we showed resilience. In Europe, you need to take every opportunity, and tonight we did that when it mattered most.”

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AZ coach Pascal Jansen added: “The match was tougher than expected, but our players remained focused. We made some mistakes, but the important thing is that we started the group stage with a win.”

Site Opinion – AZ’s Gritty Start

AZ’s narrow victory over Elfsborg shows their resilience, but also highlights areas that need improvement. The defensive lapses, particularly from goalkeeper Owusu-Oduro, nearly cost them the game. However, the team’s ability to bounce back after conceding twice demonstrates a strong mentality, which will be vital as they progress in the competition.

As AZ look ahead to tougher challenges, including a clash against Athletic Bilbao in October, they will need to tighten up defensively while maintaining their attacking threat. This win provides a solid foundation, but there’s still work to be done.