AZ 1-1 Ajax Player Ratings: Points Shared After Intense Eredivisie Battle

At the AFAS Stadion, AZ Alkmaar and Ajax played out a hard-fought 1–1 draw in a tense Eredivisie clash that never truly settled into a rhythm. This was a classic battle of caution and control, with both sides prioritising structure over risk in a match where fine margins ultimately decided the outcome.

The opening half was a measured and tactical affair. Neither team was willing to overcommit, resulting in limited clear-cut chances as both defences stayed organised and compact. The midfield battle was intense, but goalmouth action was at a premium.

The contest finally sparked into life after the break. Wouter Goes broke the deadlock for AZ, capitalising on a rare lapse to put the hosts ahead. Ajax, however, responded with resilience and composure, pushing forward to find an equaliser and ensure they left Alkmaar with a point.

Here are Sportsdunia’s AZ vs Ajax Player Ratings from this closely fought Eredivisie encounter.

Key Takeaways

• Tactical, cagey first half with both sides prioritising shape over risk.
• Second-half breakthrough as AZ struck first through Wouter Goes.
• Ajax showed resilience, responding well to earn a deserved point.

AZ Player Ratings vs Ajax

Here's a look at the AZ Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Jeroen Zoet - 6.0: A quiet day for the keeper for large parts of the game. He made one save and was decisive in coming off his line to claim the ball. We noticed his distribution was a bit hurried, losing possession 14 times, which is something he'll want to improve.

Defenders

Seiya Maikuma - 5.5: His evening was cut short by an unfortunate injury just before halftime. In his 43 minutes, he was involved in plenty of duels but struggled to impose himself, winning only three of seven. It was a shame to see him go off.

Wouter Goes - 7.5: Scored the opening goal with a poacher's finish, which is exactly what his team needed. Defensively, he was immense, making eight clearances and winning most of his duels. His performance was a massive positive for AZ.

Alexandre Penetra - 6.5: A mixed bag for the defender. He was solid with his clearances and created a big chance going forward. However, he lost a few key duels and seemed a bit overwhelmed at times. A decent, if not spectacular, outing.

Mees de Wit - 6.5: A workhorse performance down the left flank. He made four interceptions and was a constant nuisance. The yellow card was a blemish on an otherwise industrious performance. His crossing, however, could have been better.

Midfielders

Peer Koopmeiners - 7.0: The captain led by example, creating two big chances and putting in a real shift. What stood out to us was his creative spark, with three key passes. He did lose possession a lot, but it was because he was always trying to make something happen.

Isak Jensen - 6.5: He was tidy in possession with an 88% pass accuracy before being substituted. He worked hard off the ball, making a couple of tackles, but didn't offer much of a threat in the final third. A solid, if unspectacular, performance.

Kasper Boogaard - 7.0: This young man was a pleasant surprise. He was composed on the ball, recovered it six times, and even forced a good save from the keeper. For a player without a major profile, he certainly made a name for himself in this game.

Ro-Zangelo Daal - 7.0: A livewire performance. He was a constant threat with his dribbling, completing all three of his attempts. His energy and directness were key to AZ's attacking play before he was taken off.

Matej Sin - 6.0: Played only the first half and struggled to make a real impact. He did create one key pass but was otherwise on the periphery of the game. It was no surprise to see him substituted at the break.

Forwards

Troy Parrott - 8.0: Easily AZ's most dangerous player and our highest-rated player. He was a constant thorn in the side of the Ajax defense. He scored the crucial equalizer, made two key passes, and worked tirelessly, winning six of his ten duels. He even had another goal correctly disallowed by VAR. A complete forward's performance.

Substitutes

Mateo Chávez - 6.5: Came on for the injured Seiya Maikuma and looked lively, immediately setting up a chance.

Jizz Hornkamp - 6.0: Replaced Matej Sin at halftime and forced a great save with a header.

Ibrahim Sadiq - 6.0: Had a few shots after coming on but couldn't find the target.

Weslley Patati - N/A: Came on late and had little time to influence the game.

Manager

L. Echteld - 6.5: His team was well-organized and took the lead through a set-piece plan. His substitutions were logical, aiming to add fresh legs and attacking impetus. He'll be disappointed not to have held on for the win.

Ajax Player Ratings vs AZ

Let's take a look at the Ajax Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Vitezslav Jaros - 7.5: Ajax have him to thank for the point. He made five saves, some of which were top-class stops from point-blank range. His command of the box was excellent, and his distribution was solid. An outstanding performance.

Defenders

Anton Gaaei - 6.0: A difficult evening for the right-back. While he was decent going forward, his crossing was often inaccurate. Defensively, he struggled, winning only a quarter of his duels.

Owen Wijndal - 7.0: Provided a good attacking outlet down the left, creating a key pass and delivering some dangerous crosses. He was solid defensively before being substituted. We felt he was one of Ajax's better players.

Youri Baas - 7.5: A monster at the back. His passing was incredible, with a 96% accuracy rate from 83 passes. He also made seven clearances and won most of his duels. What a performance.

Josip Sutalo - 6.5: A steady performance from the center-back. He was comfortable on the ball and made some important interceptions and clearances. He was dribbled past once, which was a rare lapse in an otherwise secure display.

Midfielders

Youri Regeer - 6.5: Very tidy in possession, with a 93% pass completion rate. He recovered the ball seven times and was a calming presence in midfield. He didn't offer much going forward, but he did his defensive duties well.

Davy Klaassen - 6.0: The captain had a quiet game by his standards. He won his aerial duels but struggled to influence the game in open play. He was substituted after 66 minutes, which tells its own story.

Sean Steur - 6.5: Showed some nice touches and was confident in his dribbling. He had a couple of shots and was always looking to get on the ball. A promising display from the young midfielder before he was substituted.

Forwards

Kasper Dolberg - 5.0: A really tough night for the striker. From our perspective, he looked isolated and frustrated. He lost eight of his twelve duels and was a non-factor for most of the game. A performance to forget.

Mika Godts - 7.0: The most lively of the Ajax attackers. He completed seven dribbles and created three key passes. He was a constant threat, though his end product was sometimes lacking. A very encouraging performance nonetheless.

Rayane Bounida - 6.5: He was busy and got on the ball a lot, but much of his work was ineffective. He tried to make things happen with his dribbling and crossing but often made the wrong decision. He worked hard but lacked the final cutting edge.

Substitutes

Kian Fitz-Jim - 6.0: Came on and had one shot blocked, but didn't change the game.

Oscar Gloukh - N/A: Not enough time to make an impact.

Oliver Edvardsen - N/A: A late cameo.

Oleksandr Zinchenko - N/A: Brought on to see the game out.

Wout Weghorst - N/A: An interesting late throw of the dice.

Manager

F. Grim - 6.5: His team looked second-best for periods but showed great character to fight back for a draw. His decision to trust in Vitezslav Jaros paid off handsomely. He'll be happy with the point but will know his attack needs to be more clinical.

Man of the Match

Troy Parrott was Sportsdunia's man of the match.

Worst Performer

Kasper Dolberg was the worst performer in the AZ vs Ajax encounter.