Match report

NEC Nijmegen Stuns AZ Alkmaar 3-1 in Eredivisie Clash

AZ Alkmaar
AZ Alkmaar
1–3
FT
NEC Nijmegen
NEC Nijmegen
Jan 31, 2026

NEC Nijmegen stunned AZ Alkmaar with a convincing 3-1 victory at home, in an Eredivisie match that saw early goals by T. Chery and B. Onal setting the tone for NEC's success. Despite a late goal from Tom Parrott for AZ, Kodai Sano's second half strike secured the win for Nijmegen.

Key Facts

  • • NEC Nijmegen 3-1 AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie
  • • T. Chery scored NEC’s first goal at minute 10, followed by B. Onal just two minutes later
  • • Tom Parrott reduced the deficit for AZ with a goal in the 40th minute
  • • Kodai Sano's second half goal sealed NEC's victory
  • • N. Lebreton and Mees de Wit received yellow cards

Lineups

AZ Alkmaar

Formation: 4-3-3

Starting XI

  • 41 J. Zoet (G)
  • 5 Penetra (D)
  • 3 W. Goes (D)
  • 4 M. Dekker (D)
  • 34 M. de Wit (D)
  • 20 K. Boogaard (M)
  • 6 P. Koopmeiners (M)
  • 33 M. Sin (M)
  • 17 I. Jensen (F)
  • 9 T. Parrott (F)
  • 27 R. Daal (F)

Substitutes

  • 1 R. Owusu-Oduro
  • 12 H. Verhulst
  • 2 S. Maikuma
  • 7 Weslley Patati
  • 11 I. Sadiq
  • 15 M. Chavez Garcia
  • 19 J. Hornkamp
  • 22 E. Dijkstra
  • 23 B. van Duijl
  • 24 A. Oufkir
  • 56 R. Robbemond

NEC Nijmegen

Formation: 3-4-2-1

Starting XI

  • 1 G. Crettaz (G)
  • 14 E. Dasa (D)
  • 4 A. Kaplan (D)
  • 24 D. Fonville (D)
  • 25 S. Ouaissa (M)
  • 6 D. Nejasmic (M)
  • 23 K. Sano (M)
  • 11 B. Onal (M)
  • 10 T. Chery (F)
  • 20 N. Lebreton (F)
  • 30 B. Linssen (F)

Substitutes

  • 22 J. Cillessen
  • 31 R. Janse
  • 2 B. Pereira
  • 3 P. Sandler
  • 5 T. Ouwejan
  • 7 V. Misidjan
  • 15 J. Willems
  • 18 K. Ogawa
  • 34 Y. El Kachati
  • 39 K. Kers
  • 35 S. de Laat
  • 71 D. Proper

Timeline

  1. NEC Nijmegen
    6' NEC Nijmegen Card · Yellow Card
    N. Lebreton

    Foul

  2. NEC Nijmegen
    10' NEC Nijmegen Goal · Normal Goal
    T. Chery · Assist: N. Lebreton
  3. NEC Nijmegen
    12' NEC Nijmegen Goal · Normal Goal
    B. Onal · Assist: Kodai Sano
  4. AZ Alkmaar
    40' AZ Alkmaar Goal · Normal Goal
    T. Parrott · Assist: I. Jensen
  5. NEC Nijmegen
    52' NEC Nijmegen Goal · Normal Goal
    Kodai Sano
  6. AZ Alkmaar
    65' AZ Alkmaar subst · Substitution 1
    Off: M. Dekker · On: S. Maikuma
  7. AZ Alkmaar
    65' AZ Alkmaar subst · Substitution 2
    Off: R. Daal · On: I. Sadiq
  8. AZ Alkmaar
    65' AZ Alkmaar subst · Substitution 3
    Off: M. Sin · On: Jizz Hornkamp
  9. AZ Alkmaar
    65' AZ Alkmaar subst · Substitution 4
    Off: I. Jensen · On: A. Oufkir
  10. AZ Alkmaar
    71' AZ Alkmaar Card · Yellow Card
    Mees de Wit

    Foul

  11. NEC Nijmegen
    75' NEC Nijmegen subst · Substitution 1
    Off: Sami Ouaissa · On: B. Pereira
  12. NEC Nijmegen
    76' NEC Nijmegen subst · Substitution 2
    Off: N. Lebreton · On: P. Sandler
  13. NEC Nijmegen
    76' NEC Nijmegen subst · Substitution 3
    Off: B. Linssen · On: D. Proper
  14. NEC Nijmegen
    77' NEC Nijmegen Card · Yellow Card
    Kodai Sano

    Foul

  15. NEC Nijmegen
    82' NEC Nijmegen subst · Substitution 4
    Off: B. Onal · On: V. Misidjan
  16. AZ Alkmaar
    83' AZ Alkmaar subst · Substitution 5
    Off: Kasper Boogaard · On: M. Chavez Garcia
  17. NEC Nijmegen
    90'+1 NEC Nijmegen subst · Substitution 5
    Off: T. Chery · On: Y. El Kachati

Match Stats

Stat AZ Alkmaar NEC Nijmegen
Fouls 15 16
Pass Accuracy 71% 72%
Offsides 2 2
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 11 19
Corners 3 3
Total Passes 396 416
Yellow Cards 1 2
Blocked Shots 5 3
Shots on Target 2 8
xG 1.39 1.36
Shots off Target 4 8
Possession 49% 51%
Goals Prevented 0 0
Accurate Passes 281 300
Shots Inside Box 9 10
Saves 5 2
Shots Outside Box 2 9

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ NEC Nijmegen took an early lead with goals from T. Chery and B. Onal in the 10th and 12th minutes, respectively, setting a strong tone for their victory.
  • ▸ Kodai Sano’s second half goal at minute 52 put NEC firmly in control of the match, despite AZ Alkmaar's effort to respond with Tom Parrott's goal.