AZ Alkmaar 2-1 Telstar Player Ratings: Isak Rated 8.5/10 as Hosts Survive Late Scare to Win 2-1

AZ Alkmaar managed to clinch a nail-biting 2-1 victory over Telstar in the Eredivisie. The first half was all AZ, with complete dominance and clinical finishing that saw them race to a two-goal lead. The hosts looked comfortable from the start to the end. They applied pressure continuously, and it paid off early. A clumsy challenge led to a penalty, which was converted easily. Just before the halftime whistle, they struck again, seemingly putting the match to an end as it looked the visitors Telstar had already been drained by the efforts they put on tin the first half.

However, the Dutch side Telstar came out for the second half a completely different team. They showed immense character, pulling a goal back on a swift counter-attack that caught AZ Alkmaar off guard. The final thirty minutes were a frantic affair, with the visitors pushing hard for an equalizer. AZ Alkmaar's defense, which looked so composed earlier, suddenly appeared rattled, but they ultimately held on for the three points.

Here are the AZ Alkmaar Vs Telstar Player Ratings

AZ Alkmaar Player Ratings vs Telstar

Here are AZ Alkmaar Player Ratings vs Telstar

Goalkeeper

Rome Jayden Owusu-Oduro - 7.0: A solid display from the keeper. He made four crucial saves, a couple of which were top-drawer. He couldn't do much about the goal conceded on the counter. What stood out to us was his command of the box, especially during Telstar's late siege. He was a calming presence when his defenders started to panic.

Defenders

Wouter Goes - 6.5: A mixed bag from Goes. He was strong in the air and made some key interceptions. However, he also picked up a yellow card and looked a bit shaky when Telstar turned up the heat. He seemed to struggle with the pace of the counter-attacks but did enough to see the game out. A decent, if not spectacular, performance.

Alexandre Penetra - 6.5: Penetra was tidy in possession, boasting a 95% pass accuracy which is impressive. He was quiet for large parts of the game which for a defender, isn't always a bad thing. He was part of a defense that held on, but he wasn't a standout performer. We noticed he was a little slow to react to the break that led to Telstar's goal.

Mateo Chávez - 7.5: From our perspective, Chávez was a livewire down the left flank. He was constantly involved, drawing four fouls and creating two chances for his teammates. He put in a real shift, contributing both in defense with tackles and clearances, and in attack. A really energetic and impactful performance before being subbed off late.

Denso Kasius - 6.0: A frustrating afternoon for Kasius. While he got into good positions and created three chances, his final ball was often lacking. He lost possession a bit too often for our liking and earned a yellow card for a clumsy foul. He worked hard but the quality wasn't quite there today.

Midfielders

Peer Koopmeiners - 7.0: A very composed performance in the middle of the park. He broke up play effectively with three tackles and five clearances. Koopmeiners also showed his creative side with three key passes. He was the engine room for AZ, linking defense and attack seamlessly for most of the game.

Sven Mijnans - 7.5: The captain led by example. What a creative force he was, creating a staggering six chances, including two big chances. He was everywhere, pulling the strings and trying to make things happen. He did miss a big chance himself, but his overall contribution was immense. A true midfield maestro today.

Kees Smit - 6.0: A bit of an underwhelming performance from Smit. He was tidy on the ball but lacked a decisive impact on the game. An error leading to a shot blots his copybook. We expected a bit more from him in an attacking sense, but he seemed to play it safe for most of the match.

Forwards

Isak Jensen - 8.5: Our man of the match. Jensen was simply electric. He was a nightmare for the Telstar defense, completing eight successful dribbles and winning a penalty with his quick feet. He was a constant threat, and it was a shame he had to come off injured. A brilliant, game-winning performance that lit up the stadium.

Matej Sin - 7.5: He got his goal, a poacher's finish right before halftime, and was a real handful. He also hit the woodwork and had another shot saved. He was a bit hot-headed, picking up a yellow card, but his goal-scoring instinct was crucial. A very effective outing before his substitution.

Mexx Meerdink - 8.0: Meerdink was fantastic. He coolly converted the penalty to open the scoring and was a menace throughout his time on the pitch. With six shots and two key passes, he was at the heart of AZ's best attacking moves. A very sharp and clinical display from the forward.

Substitutes

Weslley Patati - 6.0: Came on and had a couple of shots but couldn't find the decisive touch. Looked lively.

Troy Parrott - 6.0: Had limited time to make an impact but worked hard to help his team see out the win.

Ibrahim Sadiq - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Maxim Dekker - N/A: Came on late to shore up the defense.

Elijah Dijkstra - N/A: A very late sub to waste time.

Manager

M. Martens - 7.0: His team was brilliant in the first half, and his game plan worked perfectly. However, he'll be concerned with how they lost control in the second period. He made the right subs to secure the win in the end. A victory is a victory, and he'll take it.

Telstar Player Ratings vs AZ

Here are Telstar Player Ratings vs AZ Alkmaar

Goalkeeper

Ronald Koeman Jr. - 7.5: If it weren't for him, the scoreline could have been much worse for Telstar. He made an incredible seven saves, including six from inside the box. He was commanding and agile, keeping his team in the contest almost single-handedly at times. A fantastic performance despite conceding two goals.

Defenders

Jeff Hardeveld - 7.0: A solid outing from the captain. He was defensively sound with eight clearances and three tackles. He also provided a creative outlet, delivering some dangerous crosses and creating three chances. A real leader's performance, battling until the very end.

Guus Offerhaus - 5.5: A difficult day at the office for Offerhaus. He struggled against the pace and movement of the AZ attackers, committing four fouls. He looked off the pace and was a weak link in the Telstar backline. He did make some clearances but was generally overwhelmed.

Neville Ogidi Nwankwo - 4.5: A day to forget. His clumsy foul gave away the penalty that opened the scoring, earning him a yellow card and leading to an error for a goal. He was hooked after just 31 minutes. It was a disastrous start from which he couldn't recover. We felt for him as he walked off.

Midfielders

Dylan Mertens - 6.5: He was tenacious in the midfield, getting stuck in with five tackles. He worked tirelessly for the team but offered little going forward. His energy was important, especially in the second half, but he couldn't influence the game in the final third.

Nils Rossen - 6.5: A steady if unspectacular performance. He kept the ball moving and was positionally disciplined. Rossen provided a shield for his defense but didn't have much of an impact further up the pitch. A functional performance doing the simple things right.

Jochem Ritmeester van de Kamp - 7.0: A really tidy display. He was composed on the ball, with high passing accuracy, and contributed defensively with interceptions and tackles. He also created three chances, showing his quality when he got forward. A very well-rounded performance.

Forwards

Soufiane Hetli - 6.0: He worked hard but was largely ineffective. He lost possession too easily and struggled to get into the game. He was subbed off in the second half after failing to make a real impression on the AZ defense. A frustrating outing for him.

Tyrese Noslin - 7.5: He was the man who sparked the comeback attempt. He took his goal brilliantly on the counter-attack, showing great composure. He was a constant source of energy and his goal gave his team belief. A very good performance, full of running and purpose.

Patrick Brouwer - 6.5: Had a powerful long-range shot saved in the first half. He was a willing runner and battled hard, winning most of his duels. However, his final product was inconsistent. A decent effort but lacked the cutting edge.

Kay Tejan - 7.5: What a physical presence he was. Tejan won an incredible number of aerial duels and was a constant nuisance for the AZ defenders. He provided the assist for Noslin's goal and was unlucky not to score himself. A tireless and very effective performance leading the line.

Substitutes

Devon Koswal - 6.5: Came on for the struggling Nwankwo and looked much more solid at the back.

Milan Zonneveld - 6.5: Added energy and had a couple of decent chances late on.

Rojendro Oudsten - 6.0: Put in a shift but had little time to make a real impact.

Adil Lechkar - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Mohamed Hamdaoui - N/A: Came on late and had a shot blocked.

Manager

A. Correia - 6.5: His team's dreadful start put them on the back foot. However, his second-half adjustments were excellent, and his team showed great spirit to get back into the game. The initial setup was questionable, but the reaction was commendable. Almost salvaged a point.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Isak