Alkmaar, Netherlands, NED — AZ secured all three points at AFAS Stadion, scoring three times in the final eight minutes to pull clear of a Sparta Rotterdam side that had briefly made it interesting late on.
Sparta Rotterdam
1 - 3
AZ Alkmaar
SHOTS
12 11
SHOTS ON TARGET
4 5
CORNERS
7 2
FOULS
12 9
YELLOW CARDS
2 2
SAVES
2 3
GOALS:- 12' Bruno Martins Indi - Sparta Rotterdam- 54' Ayoub Oufkir - AZ Alkmaar- 65' Sven Mijnans - AZ Alkmaar- 83' Kees Smit - AZ Alkmaar- 87' Milan Zonneveld - Sparta Rotterdam- 90' Troy Parrott - AZ Alkmaar
STANDOUT PLAYERS:- AZ Alkmaar: Sven Mijnans - goal and central role in AZ's second-half surge- Sparta Rotterdam: Bruno Martins Indi - early opener, gave Sparta the lead
KEY STAT: Sparta Rotterdam held 54.4% possession and outshot AZ 12-11, yet conceded three goals in the final eight minutes.