Key Takeaways:
- AZ Alkmaar advanced to the UEFA Conference League last 16 with a 4-0 home victory over FC Noah last night
- Sven Mijnans netted twice, including his fourth goal in the tournament
- FC Noah exited their inaugural European knockout campaign following the 4-1 aggregate defeat
Match Overview and Turning Points
AZ Alkmaar overturned their first-leg defeat with authority, dispatching Armenian side FC Noah 4-0 at the AFAS Stadion to reach the last 16 of the UEFA Conference League. After slipping to a disappointing 1-0 loss away from home, the Dutch side needed a strong response and delivered early, thanks to Ro-Zangelo Daal’s precise volley past Aleksey Ploshchadnyi in just the fifth minute, erasing FC Noah’s advantage from the first leg.
🚀 Next round, here we come!
⚽️ 5. Daal (1-0)
⚽️ 39. Mijnans (2-0)
⚽️ 54. Mijnans (3-0)
⚽️ 90+1. Jensen (4-0)#AZAlkmaar #aznoa #TheFutureIsOurs pic.twitter.com/MnTfv9jDoj— AZ (@AZAlkmaar) February 26, 2026
The early breakthrough set the tone, as AZ went on to control possession and limit Noah’s attacking opportunities throughout the first half. The home team’s dominance was rewarded again in the 38th minute when Sven Mijnans registered his fourth goal of the competition, latching onto Peer Koopmeiners’ crafty free-kick and finishing into the bottom corner. At half-time, AZ held a commanding 2-0 lead on the night and had levelled the aggregate score.
Second-Half Performance and Key Moments
After a scoreless attacking display from FC Noah in the opening period, their offensive frustrations persisted after the interval. AZ maintained their grip on the match and quickly added a third, with Sven Mijnans tapping in from close range to make it 3-0. The opportunity for a hat-trick soon presented itself to Mijnans, but he was unable to convert from a Kees Smit cross, miscontrolling the ball on his thigh at the far post.
AZ managed the remainder of the match with composure, stifling Noah’s advances and preventing any meaningful attempts on goal. As the fixture approached its conclusion, Troy Parrott’s shot was parried by Ploshchadnyi, but Isak Jensen pounced on the rebound to cap the night with a fourth goal in the 91st minute.
Aggregate Result and Next Steps
FC Noah’s first foray into European knockout football came to an abrupt end with a 4-0 defeat in Alkmaar, unable to build on their slender first-leg advantage. AZ Alkmaar advanced 4-1 on aggregate and will discover their opponents for the round of 16 in Friday’s Conference League draw.
| Leg | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| First Leg | FC Noah 1-0 AZ Alkmaar | |
| Second Leg | AZ Alkmaar 4-0 FC Noah | |
| Aggregate | AZ Alkmaar 4-1 FC Noah | |
