Ajax snatch draw at AZ with stoppage-time equalizer
A late equalizing goal from Kian Fitz-Jim rescued a point for Ajax on Sunday away to AZ Alkmaar. The midfielder scored in the 93rd minute after AZ defender Wouter Goes had put the home side ahead in the AFAS Stadium.
AZ has an outstanding record against Ajax in recent years. This draw continues a run of 11 games since Ajax has beaten the Alkmaarders.
Although new signing Oleksandr Zinchenko was in the match day squad for the first time, Fred Grim decided to stick with Owen Wijndal in the left back position. This fixture proved to be a memorable one a month ago when AZ defeated the Amsterdammers 6-0 in the KNVB Cup.
It was a first half with very few chances. Two of Ajax’s only opportunities fell to Rayan Bounida. The second of which could have led to a goal if the Belgian had been able to make decent contact with the ball, but Alexandre Penetra did just enough to put him off.
AZ took the lead in the 52nd minute. A long throw was diverted towards Mateo Chavez, his shot was saved by Vítězslav Jaroš before Wouter Goes was on hand to tap home into the empty net.
Lee-Roy Echteld’s side thought they had taken a big step towards a win in the 66th minute when a long free kick was headed across by Alexandre Penetra to Troy Parrott. But the goal was disallowed after a VAR review, as Ibrahim Sadiq had blocked Anton Gaaei from reaching the ball with a body block, while he was standing in an offside position.
Despite this, many in the AFAS Stadium will still likely have expected AZ to take home the three points, with a poor Ajax showing creating very little danger. But this changed in the 93rd minute, when a cross from Oliver Edvardsen found Kian Fitz-Jim in the box, and he headed into the net past Jeroen Zoet.
The result leaves Ajax in fourth place after this weekend’s games. They are three points behind Feyenoord, who are second, and two points behind NEC in third. AZ is six points behind Ajax in seventh place.
