AZ Alkmaar emerged victorious with a convincing 3-1 win over FC Groningen during the second round of the KNVB Cup, stringing together another impressive performance at the AFAS Stadion. This victory not only extended their head-to-head dominance over Groningen, marking the 15th victory for AZ against their rivals, but also showcased several standout individual performances, particularly from their substitutes.
The match began brightly for the hosts as Sven Mijnans found the back of the net just four minutes after kickoff, showcasing AZ's readiness to seize the moment. After receiving a clever assist from Ernest Poku, Mijnans tapped the ball home to give his team the early lead. Yet, the game was anything but one-sided. Groningen, after settling down, started to challenge AZ more actively. This intensity led to Leandro Bacuna leveling the match with a well-taken penalty just before halftime. Bacuna was awarded the spot-kick after Wouter Goes fouled him inside the box, showing how quickly fortunes can shift during such tense knockout matches.
With the score tied at 1-1 entering the second half, AZ Alkmaar rallied to regain control. The pivotal moment came around the 70th minute when Ruben van Bommel, coming off the bench, displayed his impact immediately by scoring the second goal for AZ. Van Bommel found Schmidt’s incisive pass and slotted the ball home, putting AZ back in front. His goal was met with roars from the home supporters, grateful for the reinforcements from the bench.
Adding to their momentum, AZ sealed the game with a stunning strike from Jayden Addai, who had only joined the fray 79 minutes in, replacing Mayckel Lahdo. Following an excellent pass from Dave Kwakman, Addai made it look effortless as he fired home from outside the box. His left-footed effort soared past the helpless Groningen goalkeeper, marking his debut senior goal, and putting the game out of reach for the visitors.
AZ Alkmaar showcased their dominance throughout the match, registering 22 shots compared to Groningen's 9 and maintaining 56% possession. This clearly demonstrated their intent to control the pace and outcome of the game. Following the match, AZ expressed public satisfaction at their ability to overcome Groningen, who have struggled this season with only four points from their last four Eredivisie matches.
Despite Groningen's attempts to utilize their underdog status, the reality proved challenging. Head coach’s hopes to defy the odds were set back by their inability to penetrate AZ’s well-structured defense. The Groningen squad knew they had faced one of the toughest opponents possible, and the efforts to regroup will be necessary moving forward as they continue their campaign.
For AZ Alkmaar, this victory adds to their aspirations of lifting the KNVB Cup title, which they last achieved over ten years ago. Their performance on the field is indicating soaring confidence as they prepare to face FC Twente for their next fixture on December 21st. With this recent cup run and rising form, AZ clearly has their eyes set on achieving longer-lasting success this season.
Overall, AZ Alkmaar’s victory is more than just progression to the next round; it serves as momentum for their future matches, signaling to both fans and opponents alike the potential they hold. With key players stepping up when it mattered most, expectations will rise for the team as they look to continue this successful streak throughout the cup competition.
