AZ Alkmaar edged past Heerenveen 3-2 in the Eredivisie's fifth round at the Abe Lenstra stadium on Sunday. The visitors completed a clean sweep of five wins from five, while Heerenveen remain rooted in twelfth place with just five points. The result extended AZ's perfect start and tightened the margin at the top of the table.
Heerenveen struck first through Ro Zangelo Daal, who found the net in the seventh minute. Nolhan Courtens equalised shortly before the break in the 21st minute, and Ringo Meerveld put the hosts ahead with a goal in the 30th minute. By then the match had settled into a rhythm that promised more.
What followed was a second half where AZ took control. Mexx Meerdink levelled in the 69th minute, and Ayoub Oufkir secured the win with a late strike in the 83rd minute. The visitors threw bodies in the way once they took the lead, and Heerenveen were left chasing shadows. We had called an away win at 45 per cent confidence before kick-off, and the game played out exactly as we expected.
Heerenveen dominated possession with 55 per cent but could not convert their chances. AZ registered eight shots on target compared to five, and their expected goals figure of 1.51 mirrored the scoreline. The visitors were more clinical, while Heerenveen had 12 key passes but struggled to find the final ball.
The result leaves AZ top of the Eredivisie with 15 points, three clear of any challenger. Heerenveen sit 12th and have not won since their opening day victory against Twente. Both sides had similar aerial duel counts, but AZ's defensive clearances of 28 told the story of a game they ultimately controlled.
