AZ humiliate Ajax with 6-0 win in KNVB Cup

AZ ran riot against Ajax on Tuesday evening, dismantling the Amsterdam side 6–0. Backed by their home crowd, the Alkmaar outfit showcased their superiority as they booked a place in the KNVB Cup quarterfinals.

Ajax’s ambitions this season seem limited to finishing second in the Eredivisie. The Amsterdam side, now third, are 16 points adrift of leaders PSV and effectively out of the title race. In Europe, their Champions League campaign is also nearing its end, with elimination virtually certain ahead of the final two group matches.

AZ continued their remarkable dominance over Ajax, stretching their unbeaten streak to ten matches under coach Maarten Martens, including seven wins and three draws. The Alkmaar side have not lost to Ajax in nearly four years, since a 0–2 defeat at home that sent the Amsterdam club to the KNVB Cup final.

Fueled by energy and aggression, AZ put Ajax under immediate pressure and took the lead within two minutes. After Vítězslav Jaros failed to deal convincingly with shots from Sven Mijnans and Kees Smit, Troy Parrott pounced on the loose ball to score. The forward struck again in the 33rd minute, outsmarting Josip Šutalo to latch onto a long kick from Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro and slot home with composure. Peer Koopmeiners then capped a dominant first half by making it 3–0 shortly before the break.

Ajax were largely powerless, creating just one genuine chance before the break through Oscar Gloukh. Defensive injuries hurt them, with Youri Baas sidelined and Anton Gaaei deemed unready for a starting role, although experienced defenders Sutalo and Owen Wijndal began the match. Ajax manager Fred Grim reshuffled his side at halftime, bringing on Raul Moro and Rayane Bounida for Mika Godts and Davy Klaassen, but the changes had little impact: within two minutes, Smit struck again to make it 4–0.

Ajax were reduced to ten men from the 66th minute onward. Owen Wijndal was sent off against his former club for a foul on Wouter Goes, who was making his hundredth appearance for AZ. Parrott then completed his hat-trick, before substitute Ibrahim Sadiq rounded off the scoring to make it 6–0. Unlike Ajax, AZ can still end the season with silverware, with the club also seeing opportunities not only in the KNVB Cup but in the Conference League as well.