Heracles Almelo 1-2 AZ Alkmaar Player Ratings: Rome Jayden Rated 8/10 as Meerdink's late strike secures away win 2-1

What a chaotic and thrilling match we witnessed in the Dutch league Eredivisie. AZ Alkmaar managed to snatch all three points on the road against Heracles Almelo, a team that sits at the bottom of the table, but they were made to work for it. This was a classic end-to-end encounter that could have gone either way. It was a game defined by moments of brilliance and defensive lapses.

The visitors, AZ Alkmaar, started the game with a bang. Alexandre Penetra bundled the ball from a corner just nine minutes into the game. It felt like they might run away with it. But Heracles Almelo showed incredible spirit, fighting their way back into the match. Their reward came when captain Damon Mirani leveled the score with a powerful header, also from a corner.

The second half was just as frantic as the first half. Both goalkeepers were kept busy, and Yvandro Borges Sanches was desperately unlucky to see his effort crash against the crossbar. Just when a draw seemed inevitable, Mexx Meerdink popped up in the 77th minute to score the winner. It was a poacher's finish that broke the hearts of the home supporters and sealed a vital 2-1 victory for AZ Alkmaar.

Here are the Heracles Almelo Vs AZ Alkmaar Player Ratings

Heracles Almelo Player Ratings vs AZ Alkmaar

Here are Heracles Almelo Player Ratings vs AZ Alkmaar

Goalkeeper

Fabian de Keijzer - 7.0: We thought he had a really solid game despite conceding twice. He made six saves, some of which were top-drawer to keep his team in it. He couldn't have done much for either of the goals, both being close-range scrambles. A busy but commendable performance from the keeper.

Defenders

Mimeirhel Benita - 6.0: A difficult afternoon for the fullback. He was often caught between attacking and defending, losing possession 12 times. He did make three successful tackles but was dribbled past on three occasions. What stood out to us was his constant battle against AZ's tricky wingers, a challenge he didn't always win.

Damon Mirani - 7.5: The captain led by example, scoring the crucial equalizer with a fantastic header. He was a rock at the back making four clearances and looked composed on the ball. His leadership was evident throughout the game. A very strong performance from the centre-back.

Djevencio van der Kust - 5.5: A day to forget for the defender. He really struggled to contain the flow of attacks down his flank and was dribbled past too easily. He lost possession 10 times and his impact was minimal before being substituted. From our perspective, it was a necessary change.

Ivan Mesik - 6.0: A mixed bag for Mesik. He was excellent in possession, completing 94% of his passes which is impressive for a defender under pressure. However, he only won one of his four duels and made a couple of errors that invited pressure. He needed to be more assertive in key moments.

Midfielders

Sem Scheperman - 7.5: What an engine in the midfield. This guy was everywhere. He won a staggering 11 of his 15 duels and made four successful tackles. He completely dominated his area of the pitch, breaking up play and driving his team forward. A truly impressive defensive midfield display.

Thomas Bruns - 6.5: He was quite involved during his 70 minutes on the pitch. Bruns had four shots and created two chances, showing his intent to get forward. His energy was good, but his influence faded slightly before he was taken off. A decent, hardworking shift.

Ajdin Hrustić - 6.0: A tidy performance but ultimately frustrating. He boasted an incredible 96% pass accuracy, keeping things ticking over. However, he didn't create enough in the final third and picked up a needless yellow card. We expected more of a creative spark from him.

Forwards

Bryan Limbombe - 7.0: He was a constant threat for the Heracles attack. He provided a great assist for the goal and created three chances in total. His delivery from wide areas was a real problem for the AZ defence. He did lose the ball a fair bit but his positive play made up for it.

Jizz Hornkamp - 6.5: A tireless performance up front, constantly battling with the defenders. He won 7 of his 11 duels, which shows his physical presence. Unfortunately, his finishing let him down, as he failed to find the net with any of his three shots. He worked hard for the team, but a striker is judged on goals.

Yvandro Borges Sanches - 6.5: So incredibly unlucky not to score. His shot that cannoned off the woodwork was a moment of real quality. He was a livewire with his dribbling, completing four successful runs. His final product was sometimes lacking, but he was exciting to watch.

Substitutes

Mario Engels - 6.0: Came on but struggled to make a significant impact on the game. Tristan van Gilst - 6.0: Added some fresh legs but couldn't unlock the AZ defense. Jan Zamburek - 6.5: Looked lively and had a decent shot from outside the box. Luka Kulenovic - N/A: Not on long enough to rate. Walid Ould-Chikh - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

B. Sibum - 6.5: His team showed great character to come back from a goal down and were arguably the better side for periods. The setup was good, and they created chances. However, they couldn't find a way to secure a point, and the defensive frailties ultimately cost them.

AZ Alkmaar Player Ratings vs Heracles Almelo

Here are AZ Alkmaar Player Ratings vs Heracles Almelo

Goalkeeper

Rome Jayden Owusu-Oduro - 8.0: Absolutely brilliant between the sticks and our highest-rated player. He made five saves, including a stunning stop to deny Hrustic. He commanded his box with authority, claiming high balls and making two punches. A match-winning performance from the young keeper.

Defenders

Wouter Goes - 6.5: A quiet but effective game from the central defender. He didn't do anything spectacular, but he didn't make any mistakes either. He was tidy in possession and won half of his duels. A steady, if unspectacular, outing.

Alexandre Penetra - 7.5: A true mixed bag of a performance. He showed great instincts to be in the right place to score the opener. Defensively, he was a beast, making nine clearances. The yellow card was a blemish, but his goal was vital.

Denso Kasius - 6.5: A very attacking performance from the full-back. He was constantly bombing forward, though his final ball from five crosses was often disappointing. He won most of his duels but also picked up a booking for a clumsy challenge. An energetic but raw display.

Mees de Wit - 7.0: A really solid all-round performance. He created three chances and his passing was crisp, with 91% accuracy. Defensively, he made seven clearances and three tackles. The yellow card was the only negative on a day where he contributed at both ends of the pitch.

Midfielders

Jordy Clasie - 7.5: The captain was at the heart of everything good for AZ. He controlled the tempo of the game and created a remarkable four chances, including one big chance. He recovered the ball eight times, showing his defensive work rate. The late yellow card was unnecessary, but he was a true leader out there.

Sven Mijnans - 7.0: If you wanted action, you just had to watch this guy. He took an incredible seven shots, a constant threat around the box. While his finishing was wayward, his intent was clear. He was always looking to make something happen before being subbed off.

Kees Smit - 7.5: A wonderfully creative display from the young midfielder. He provided the crucial assist for the winning goal, one of three chances he created. His movement and vision were excellent throughout his time on the pitch. A very mature performance that belied his years.

Forwards

Weslley Patati - 6.5: Showed flashes of skill and delivered a key pass. He had a 100% cross accuracy from his one attempt which was nice to see. However, he was a bit on the periphery of the game and was substituted after 69 minutes. A decent but quiet game.

Ro-Zangelo Daal - 7.0: He was a nightmare for the Heracles defence in the first half. His direct running and dribbling caused all sorts of problems. He completed three dribbles and won eight duels. We were surprised to see him substituted, as he looked like AZ's most dangerous attacker.

Mexx Meerdink - 7.5: The hero of the hour. He missed a couple of chances earlier in the game, including one big chance, which was frustrating to watch. But, crucially, he kept his composure to poke home the winner. That's the mark of a good striker, being in the right place at the right time.

Substitutes

Isak Jensen - 6.5: Looked bright after coming on, had a couple of shots blocked.

Ibrahim Sadiq - 6.5: Missed a good chance but was active.

Matej Sín - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Lequincio Zeefuik - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Peer Koopmeiners - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

M. Martens - 7.5: He set his team up to attack and they were rewarded. AZ created a huge number of chances and probably should have scored more. His substitutions added energy, and tactically, he got the big decisions right to secure a tough away victory.