On a brisk January night at the AFAS Stadion, Irish striker Troy Parrott etched his name into AZ Alkmaar folklore with a scintillating hat-trick as his side dismantled Dutch giants Ajax 6-0 in the KNVB Cup round of 16. The performance was not only a personal milestone for Parrott but also a timely display in front of Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson, who watched from the stands with a keen eye ahead of March’s crucial World Cup playoff.
Parrott, just 23 years old, wasted no time making his presence felt. Within three minutes of kickoff, he pounced on a rebound in the box after Ajax’s Czech goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros parried a shot from the edge of the area. The Irishman’s predatory instincts were on full display as he slotted home the opener, sending the home fans into early celebration and setting the tone for what would become an unforgettable night.
It wasn’t long before Parrott doubled AZ’s advantage. In the 33rd minute, Alkmaar’s goalkeeper Rome Jayden Owusu-Oduro launched a long clearance upfield. Parrott, demonstrating both strength and pace, shrugged off his marker, expertly controlled the ball with a deft header, and unleashed a powerful left-footed strike from 18 yards out. The ball whistled past Jaros, who famously won the 2021 FAI Cup with St Patrick’s Athletic, and nestled in the far right corner. Parrott’s tally for the season climbed to 18 with that finish, but he was far from done.
Just before the halftime whistle, Peer Koopmeiners added a third for AZ, capitalizing on Ajax’s disarray and giving the hosts a commanding 3-0 lead at the break. The visitors’ woes deepened almost immediately after the restart, as Kees Smit netted AZ’s fourth just two minutes into the second half. Ajax’s night went from bad to worse when Owen Wijndal received a straight red card, reducing the Amsterdam side to ten men with more than 20 minutes still to play.
The numerical advantage only served to further embolden AZ Alkmaar. Parrott, ever the opportunist, was first to capitalize, completing his hat-trick in the 80th minute. After a shot ricocheted off the post, he was perfectly positioned to side-foot the ball into an empty net, securing his first-ever treble for the club and bringing his season total to a remarkable 19 goals in all competitions. Parrott’s timing couldn’t have been better, with Hallgrimsson observing every move as he prepares his Ireland squad for their pivotal playoff clash against Czechia in March.
“It was a great night for me and for the team,” Parrott said after the match, his smile as wide as the margin of victory. “Scoring a hat-trick in front of the home fans and with the Ireland manager watching just makes it even more special.” According to sources close to the Ireland camp, Hallgrimsson hadn’t seen Parrott in action since November, when the striker’s international hat-trick propelled Ireland to a playoff-clinching win over Hungary. After a festive break in Dublin, Parrott picked up right where he left off, notching a goal in AZ’s Eredivisie win over Volendam before running riot against Ajax.
Ajax, for their part, simply had no answer to AZ’s relentless attack. Peer Koopmeiners’ goal just before halftime and Kees Smit’s early second-half strike all but ended the contest. The red card for Wijndal was the final nail in the coffin, and as the clock ticked down, AZ showed no mercy. Ibrahim Sadiq capped off the rout in the 88th minute, slotting home the sixth and final goal to send the home supporters into raptures.
The defeat marks one of the heaviest in Ajax’s storied history, and the fallout will undoubtedly be severe for the struggling Amsterdam club. For AZ Alkmaar, however, the result is a statement of intent as they march into the KNVB Cup quarter-finals brimming with confidence.
For Parrott, this performance is another feather in his cap during what is fast becoming a breakout season. His clinical finishing, movement off the ball, and ability to step up in big moments have made him a fan favorite in Alkmaar and a key figure for the Republic of Ireland. The fact that his hat-trick came against Ajax, the most decorated club in Dutch football, only amplifies the achievement.
Hallgrimsson’s presence in the stands was no coincidence. With Ireland’s World Cup playoff against Czechia looming on March 26, the manager is eager to see his attacking options in peak form. Parrott’s display will have given him plenty to ponder as he scouts further talent; he’s set to continue his preparations by attending the upcoming Championship clash between Southampton and Hull City, where several other Irish internationals are expected to feature.
It’s not lost on Irish fans that Parrott’s first goal came against a Czech international goalkeeper—perhaps a good omen ahead of the playoff. “What the Republic of Ireland would give for more of the same come March,” mused one Irish commentator, capturing the hope and anticipation now swirling around Parrott’s international prospects.
As for AZ Alkmaar, the night was a celebration of both individual brilliance and collective dominance. The team’s fluid attacking play, high pressing, and clinical finishing overwhelmed Ajax from start to finish. With their talismanic striker in such red-hot form, the club’s ambitions in both domestic cup and league competitions have received a significant boost.
In the aftermath, Parrott’s teammates and coaching staff were quick to heap praise on the young forward. “He’s a natural finisher and a great teammate,” said one AZ player. “When he’s in this kind of mood, he’s almost impossible to stop.”
It’s hard to argue. On a night when everything went right for AZ Alkmaar, Troy Parrott was at the heart of it all—scoring, creating, and inspiring those around him. With Hallgrimsson taking notes and the World Cup playoff drawing ever closer, Irish fans will be hoping their star striker can replicate this magic on the international stage.
As the dust settles on this emphatic cup victory, one thing is clear: Troy Parrott’s stock is rising fast, and both AZ Alkmaar and the Republic of Ireland will be counting on him to deliver more memorable moments in the weeks and months ahead.