AZ Alkmaar Dominate Sparta Prague, Advance to Conference League Quarterfinals
AZ Alkmaar delivered a commanding performance on Thursday, defeating Sparta Prague 4-0 and securing a decisive 6-1 aggregate victory in the UEFA Conference League Round of 16. The Dutch side’s emphatic win propels them into the quarterfinals of the tournament.
The Eredivisie club carried a 2-1 advantage from the first leg into the match at epet ARENA and quickly asserted their dominance. Isak Jensen opened the scoring in the 8th minute, capitalizing on a setup from Kees Smit. AZ continued to press, and Troy Parrott extended the lead to 2-0 with a well-placed finish in the 58th minute, assisted by Denzo Kasius.
Sven Mijnans then added a spectacular long-range goal in the 62nd minute, further solidifying AZ’s control. Ro-Zangelo Daal completed the rout in the 73rd minute, sealing the 4-0 victory. A potential consolation goal for Sparta Prague in the 67th minute was ruled offside after a VAR review.
Both teams entered the match in quality form, with Sparta Prague having recently defeated Slovácko 5-2 and AZ Alkmaar securing a 4-0 win over Heracles Almelo. However, Sparta Prague were unable to replicate that form against a clinical AZ side.
The result marks a significant achievement for AZ Alkmaar, who will now look ahead to a quarterfinal matchup against Shakhtar Donetsk, after they defeated Lech Poznań 4-3 on aggregate. This victory underscores AZ’s strong performance in the Conference League this season and positions them as a contender for the title.
