AZ Alkmaar secured a comfortable 2:0 victory over ADO Den Haag in the opening matchday of the Eredivisie season at the DS Arena on Saturday evening. The hosts, who arrived with five wins from five matches in pre-season friendlies, showed no signs of rust as they controlled proceedings under the floodlights. R. Daal and C. Stengs provided the goals, each finding the net in the second half to put the result beyond doubt.
The breakthrough came in the 61st minute when R. Daal finished a well-worked move inside the penalty area. AZ had been gradually increasing their pressure through the first half, creating four big chances against ADO's none, but it took a moment of quality to break the deadlock. By then, the visitors were already struggling to find their rhythm against a side that ran the show from the first whistle.
Stengs doubled the advantage eight minutes later, capitalising on a defensive error to slot home from close range. The goal killed any remaining hope of a comeback, and ADO's frustration showed when J. Kilo picked up a yellow card in the 74th minute. The visitors managed zero shots on target throughout the match, a statistic that tells its own story about a side unable to test their goalkeeper.
AZ's statistics reflected their dominance: 54 per cent possession, 2.74 expected goals, and 470 total passes compared to ADO's 405. The hosts completed 389 passes successfully while ADO managed 320, but it was the quality of chances that separated the sides. ADO could only manage seven shots off target, none of which came on frame.
Substitutions began in earnest after the hour mark, with both teams making changes to see out the match. Hawkins and Patati came on together for AZ in the 57th minute, while ADO brought on van Mieghem in response. The final substitution saw Daal himself come off in the 81st minute to a warm reception from the home crowd.
The result leaves AZ top of the table with maximum points from their first competitive outing, while ADO remain rooted to 16th place with just one point from five matches. The gap between the sides was never in doubt, but the manner of the victory may concern visitors' supporters more than the scoreline itself.