AZ Alkmaar falls to Crystal Palace

Strong start but early challenges

AZ Alkmaar began their Conference League battle against Crystal Palace with a promising outlook. Despite creating early opportunities, the English squad swiftly took the reins of the match, setting a competitive tone.

Crystal Palace takes the lead

Merely eleven minutes into play, Crystal Palace established their presence. A corner resulted in Ismaïla Sarr hitting the post. Shortly after, a penalty was awarded, with AZ’s keeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro pulling off an impressive save from Mateta’s attempt.

Goals change the game

Despite the valiant efforts by Owusu-Oduro, Crystal Palace surged ahead in the 22nd minute with a decisive goal from Maxence Lacroix. The match slowed in pace as AZ endeavored to keep up. Close to halftime, Sarr extended Crystal Palace’s lead, slotting one home after a lengthy VAR deliberation.

Second half action

Reviving hope in the second half, AZ found the back of the net when Kees Smit provided an assist for Sven Mijnans, narrowing the gap to 2-1. However, any hope was short-lived as Sarr scored again, reinforcing Crystal Palace’s command at 3-1, following a smooth through pass from Mateta.

Final moments

In the game’s closing minutes, AZ fought to bridge the deficit but failed to score again. An offside goal by substitute Daichi Kamada marked the last significant event, capping off AZ’s disappointing performance. The loss now places AZ in 27th in the Conference League with three points from three encounters.

Glasner’s impressions

Post-match insights from Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner highlighted his respect for AZ Alkmaar. He noted, “This was a challenging match, but securing victory against a commendable team is essential.” While pinpointing missed opportunities, he was pleased with his side’s physical dominance and successful shots.