AZ Outclassed by Crystal Palace in 3-1 UEFA Conference League Defeat
AZ Alkmaar suffered a clear 3-1 defeat to English Premier League side Crystal Palace in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday evening. The Dutch team was fortunate to avoid an even heavier loss at Selhurst Park, where the hosts dominated from start to finish.
Crystal Palace’s Early Control
Palace, who entered the competition after winning the English FA Cup, created danger early on. In the 11th minute, a long pass was headed back into the box by Chris Richards, where Ismaila Sarr controlled it on his chest before striking the post with a powerful volley.
Missed Penalty but Continued Pressure
Moments later, Palace earned a penalty when Yeremy Pino’s through ball found Sarr, who was brought down by Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro.
Jean-Philippe Mateta, known for his penalty accuracy, saw his shot saved by Owusu-Oduro.
The miss didn’t slow Palace down. The pressure intensified as Owusu-Oduro made a spectacular save from Sarr’s header before Will Hughes struck the crossbar with a looping volley.
Opening Goal and Palace’s Momentum
The breakthrough came soon after. Sarr cushioned a long ball down to Maxine Lacroix, whose low volley beat the goalkeeper and found the corner. Palace’s dominance continued as AZ struggled to retain possession or counter the attacks effectively.
AZ’s Limited Response
AZ managed their first real attempt just before halftime. Sven Mijnans forced a solid save from Palace’s goalkeeper Dean Henderson with a long-range effort, seconds before the host doubled their lead.
Author’s Summary
Crystal Palace outplayed AZ from start to finish, combining relentless pressure and sharp finishing to secure a comfortable 3-1 victory at home.