AZ Alkmaar and Sparta Prague battled to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League Round of 16 tie on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The match, played at the AFAS Stadion in Alkmaar, Netherlands, saw Troy Parrott of Sparta Prague open the scoring in the 29th minute, but Wouter Goes leveled for AZ Alkmaar, preventing an early deficit for the home side.
The game was a closely contested affair, with AZ Alkmaar controlling possession 54.4% of the time, compared to Sparta Prague’s 45.6%. AZ Alkmaar registered 2 shots on goal from 9 attempts, while Sparta Prague had 2 shots on goal from 4 attempts.
Sparta Prague’s Troy Parrott found the back of the net first, giving his team the lead. But, AZ Alkmaar responded through Wouter Goes, ensuring the teams headed into the break level. The second half saw both sides continue to press for a winner, but neither could uncover a breakthrough.
The lineups for AZ Alkmaar included Owusu-Oduro, Kasius, Goes, Penetra, de Wit, Koopmeiners, Smit, Mijnans, Jensen, Parrott, and Daal. Sparta Prague started with a lineup featuring Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro, Penetra, Goes, de Wit, Kasius, Mijnans, Smit, Koopmeiners, Parrott, Daal, and Jensen.
The match also saw a corner for AZ Alkmaar in the 38th minute, conceded by Jakub SurovcÃk, and an offside call against Sparta Prague’s Lukás HaraslÃn in the 37th minute. Wouter Goes won a free kick for AZ Alkmaar in the attacking half in the 34th minute.
The Conference League Round of 16 matchup sets the stage for a crucial second leg, where both teams will be vying for a spot in the quarter-finals. This result leaves everything to play for as Sparta Prague prepares to host AZ Alkmaar in the return fixture.
Match Details:
- Competition: 2025-26 UEFA Conference League, Round of 16
- Teams: AZ Alkmaar vs. Sparta Prague
- Score: 1-1
- Date: March 12, 2026
- Venue: AFAS Stadion, Alkmaar, Netherlands
- Coverage: ESPN, BBC Sport, Flashscore
