AZ Alkmaar 2-1 Hapoel Beer Sheva: Late Winner Settles Tight Europa League Contest

AZ Alkmaar opened their UEFA Europa League league phase campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Hapoel Beer Sheva at the AFAS Stadion, thanks to a late goal that broke the visitors’ stubborn resistance. In a match that swung between Dutch control and Israeli counter-attacking threat, AZ found the decisive moment in the closing stages to claim all three points.

The result gives AZ an important early foothold in the new-look Europa League table, while Hapoel Beer Sheva were left to rue a strong second-half spell that briefly brought them level.

Match Overview

AZ started brightly and dominated possession in the opening half-hour, pinning Hapoel deep inside their own half. The hosts’ patience paid off in the 23rd minute when Troy Parrott latched onto a clever through ball and finished calmly past the goalkeeper. It was the kind of sharp, penalty-box movement that AZ had been missing in recent European outings.

Hapoel, however, were far from passive. Their 5-4-1 shape absorbed pressure and looked to spring quick breaks through the channels. That approach paid off in the 54th minute when Eliel Peretz pounced on a loose ball at the edge of the area and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner to stun the home crowd.

AZ responded with renewed urgency. Substitute Sven Mijnans added creativity in the final third, and the hosts finally broke through again in the 84th minute. A well-worked move down the right ended with a cut-back that Mijnans converted from close range, sending the AFAS Stadion into celebration.

Key Moments

• 23’ – AZ 1-0: Troy Parrott times his run perfectly and slots home the opener.
• 54’ – Hapoel 1-1: Eliel Peretz punishes a half-cleared corner with a crisp finish.
• 71’ – Big save: Hapoel goalkeeper Itamar Nitzan denies Ruben van Bommel with a strong one-handed stop.
• 84’ – AZ 2-1: Sven Mijnans arrives late in the box to convert the winning goal.
• 90+3’ – Late block: AZ defender Wouter Goes throws himself in front of a goal-bound shot to protect the lead.

Tactical Story

AZ lined up in a 4-3-3 and looked to overload the wide areas, with Ruben van Bommel and Mayckel Lahdo stretching Hapoel’s back five. The Dutch side’s high press forced turnovers, but they occasionally left space behind for Hapoel’s quick transitions. Hapoel’s 5-4-1 block was disciplined, and their willingness to counter through the middle kept the game tense until the final whistle.

The decisive tactical shift came when AZ coach changed to a more direct approach in the last 20 minutes, pushing an extra midfielder into the box. That pressure eventually told, and Hapoel could not hold out for a valuable away point.

Standout Players

Troy Parrott led the line with intelligence, while Sven Mijnans changed the game after coming on. For Hapoel, goalkeeper Itamar Nitzan produced several important saves, and Eliel Peretz was a constant threat on the break.

What It Means for the Europa League Table

AZ Alkmaar move onto three points and can approach their next European fixture with confidence. Hapoel Beer Sheva, despite the defeat, showed enough defensive organisation and counter-attacking quality to suggest they can still pick up results in the league phase. The narrow margin means goal difference could become important later in the campaign, making AZ’s late winner even more valuable.