AZ beat AS Roma 1-0 at home in the UEFA Europa League to boost chances of progression
Troy Parrott came off the bench to score the winner for AZ Alkmaar in a surprising win against AS Roma. The Alkmaarders are now almost certain of at least a playoff spot and may even be able to pick up a top-eight spot, which would give them a bye in the next round.
AZ manager Maarten Martens made a big decision in the striker position. Parrott, who had scored 11 goals in 27 games this season prior to this game, was replaced in the striker position by 21-year-old Mexx Meerdink.
The young striker could have repaid his manager’s faith in the 40th minute when he was handed what was the only real chance of the first half. A cross was poorly dealt with by Evan N’Dicka and given straight to Meerdink, but he snatched at it, sending the ball flying over the goal.
Roma was creating very little danger, and AZ seemed to be the team most likely to break the deadlock. A cross from Sven Mijnans found right-back Seiya Maikuma in an unfamiliar position. The right-back showed this with his header trickling wide from an opportunistic position.
But it did not matter in the end, as AZ got the goal they needed in the 80th minute. Jordy Clasie played the ball onto the onrushing left-back David Møller Wolfe, who played a simple cross to Parrott, and all the Irish striker had to do was tap it home to send the crowd in the AFAS Stadium into wild celebrations.
AZ are currently 14th, with many teams playing after them at 9 p.m. The Alkmaarders are just two points behind eight and are currently four points ahead of the 25th spot. They face Ferencvaros away in their final match of the league phase.
