AZ 1-1 Excelsior Player Ratings: Hosts Left Frustrated at AFAS Stadion

AZ and Excelsior played out a 1–1 draw in this Eredivisie encounter at the AFAS Stadion. It was a result that left the hosts feeling frustrated after failing to convert their dominance into all three points.

AZ Alkmaar controlled large spells of the contest, dictating possession and creating a lot of chances. As the match went on, it felt increasingly inevitable that the breakthrough would arrive, with the home side pushing higher and applying sustained pressure.

The deadlock was finally broken in the second half when Troy Parrott finished clinically to give AZ a deserved lead in the 65th minute. With momentum firmly on their side, the atmosphere suggested AZ might go on to put the game beyond reach by grabbing another goal.

Excelsior, however, showed resilience and composure. They absorbed the pressure and benefited from a shift in momentum following a series of substitutions. Late on, substitute Miliano Jonathans found the net to restore parity around 81th minute, snatching a point against the run of play.

It was a match that highlighted AZ’s control but also their inability to kill the game off at the right moment. Here are Sportsdunua’s AZ vs Excelsior Player Ratings from the Eredivisie clash.

Key Takeaways

• The hosts controlled possession and chances but failed to make their superiority count.

• Troy Parrott’s second-half goal looked set to secure the win for AZ.

• Jonathans’ equaliser against the run of play earned the visitors a valuable point.

AZ Player Ratings vs Excelsior

Here's a look at the AZ Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Jeroen Zoet - 6.0: Had very little to do for most of the game. He made one save but was a spectator for large spells. Unfortunately, he couldn't do much about the equalizer. A quiet night where he was let down by his defence for the goal conceded.

Defenders

Wouter Goes - 6.5: A comfortable evening on the ball, boasting a high pass accuracy. He was tidy in possession and tried to build from the back. However, he was part of a defensive unit that failed to switch off at the crucial moment. A solid, if unspectacular, performance.

Alexandre Penetra - 6.5: A very busy defender. He made a staggering eight clearances and blocked two shots, which shows his commitment. But an error leading to a shot blots his copybook. It was a mixed performance that balanced heroic defending with moments of uncertainty.

Elijah Dijkstra - 6.0: Looked a bit frantic at times. He picked up a yellow card and lost possession far too often for our liking. While he won a good number of his duels, his overall contribution felt a bit nervy. Not his best day at the office.

Mees de Wit - 6.5: Strong in the air, winning most of his aerial battles. He was defensively sound for the most part. However, we noticed he offered little going forward before being substituted. A standard defensive shift without much adventure.

Midfielders

Peer Koopmeiners - 7.0: The captain put in a real shift in the middle of the park. He was combative, winning plenty of duels and making some important tackles. His energy was infectious, though he did lose the ball on occasion. A true captain's display of effort.

Weslley Patati - 6.0: Only on for the first half and didn't really get into the game. He had a couple of shots but failed to test the keeper. It was an anonymous 45 minutes before he was hooked at halftime. He'll be disappointed with his contribution.

Isak Jensen - 6.5: A hardworking performance from the midfielder. He was diligent with his defensive duties, winning all his tackles. He just couldn't impose himself on the game offensively before being substituted. A decent but forgettable outing.

Kasper Boogaard - 8.0: What stood out to us was his sheer creativity. He was the best player on the pitch by a country mile. He created four chances, including two massive ones, and was the architect of almost every good attacking move for AZ. A brilliant, intelligent performance that deserved a win.

Kees Smit - 7.0: He was a livewire, constantly trying to make things happen. Smit created a couple of chances and wasn't afraid to have a shot. On the downside, he was quite wasteful in possession. A creative but ultimately frustrating performance to watch.

Forwards

Troy Parrott - 7.5: The goalscorer. He took his goal well, showing great composure. However, he also missed two big chances that could have put the game to bed. It’s a classic striker's dilemma; he scored, but he could have had a hat-trick. A good, but not great, evening's work.

Substitutes

Ibrahim Sadiq - 6.0: Came on at halftime but struggled to make an impact.

Ro-Zangelo Daal - 6.5: Looked lively and provided an assist for a missed chance.

Mateo Chávez - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Jizz Hornkamp - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

L. Echteld - 6.0: His team dominated the game but failed to capitalize on their chances. The failure to secure the win falls partly on his shoulders. The late concession points to a lack of concentration, and perhaps his game management could have been better to see out the result.

Excelsior Player Ratings vs AZ

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

Goalkeeper

Stijn van Gassel - 7.5: He was crucial for his team. He made three important saves inside the box to keep Excelsior in the contest. His distribution wasn't the best, but his shot-stopping was top-notch. From our perspective, he was a key reason they left with a point.

Defenders

Ilias Bronkhorst - 5.5: A really tough evening for the defender. He gave away several fouls and struggled to contain the AZ attack. He was eventually substituted after a difficult performance. One to forget for him.

Rick Meissen - 7.0: A solid and composed performance at the back. He made five clearances and was very secure in possession. He didn't do anything flashy but was reliable throughout. A job well done.

Casper Widell - 7.5: The captain led by example. He was an absolute giant, making a massive 10 clearances and winning almost everything in the air. He was a rock at the heart of the defence. An immense display of old-school defending.

Arthur Zagré - 6.5: A solid outing for the full-back. He won most of his duels and distributed the ball effectively with his long passing. He stuck to his task well and didn't make any glaring errors. Dependable performance.

Midfielders

Emil Hansson - 6.0: A quiet game for the midfielder. He struggled to get involved in the play and was subbed off after an hour. He worked hard but just couldn't provide the creative spark his team needed. An ineffective display.

Lewis Schouten - 8.0: An outstanding performance in the engine room. He was everywhere, winning an incredible seven out of nine duels and making four successful tackles. He completely dominated his area of the pitch. We were seriously impressed by his tenacity and intelligence.

Irakli Yegoian - 6.5: A steady and unspectacular performance. He recovered the ball well and kept his passing simple and effective. He provided good balance to the midfield without standing out. A solid team player.

Derensili Sanches Fernandes - 6.5: Showed some real moments of quality with his dribbling. He was a threat on the ball but often lacked the final product. A frustrating player to watch, full of potential but couldn't quite deliver.

Forwards

Noah Naujoks - 6.0: A thankless task for the forward. He was isolated for large parts of the game and really struggled to make an impact. He won just a quarter of his duels, which tells the story of his difficult night. He worked hard with little reward.

Jerolldino Bergraaf - 5.5: This was not his night. He missed some good chances and was extremely wasteful in possession, turning the ball over five times. He just couldn't get anything to go his way. A very poor performance from the attacker.

Substitutes

Miliano Jonathans - 7.5: The hero of the hour. He came off the bench and scored the all-important equalizer. A game-changing substitution that had a massive impact.

Mike van Duinen - 7.0: Another brilliant sub. He came on and provided the assist for the goal. He brought energy and a direct threat.

Gyan de Regt - 6.5: Added some fresh legs and caused a few problems.

Nolan Martens - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

R. den Uil - 7.5: His tactical changes were spot on. The decision to bring on Miliano Jonathans and Mike van Duinen completely changed the game. He deserves huge credit for masterminding a comeback and earning a valuable point on the road.

Man of the Match

Kasper Boogaard was Sportsdunia's man of the match.

Worst Performer

Jerolldino Bergraaf was the worst performer in AZ vs Excelsior.