AZ Alkmaar cruise past ADO Den Haag with clinical second-half display
Reviewed by Elison · Sat 8 Aug 2026Eredivisie
AZ AlkmaarFULL-TIME
ADO Den HaagSaturday 8 August 2026 · 21:00
Our score 2-1MissedHot tip AZ Alkmaar to win✓ Won
AZ Alkmaar secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over ADO Den Haag in an Eredivisie fixture that was settled by two goals in quick succession during the second half. The win reinforces AZ’s standing in the Dutch top flight, while ADO Den Haag were left to reflect on a performance that ultimately offered too little in attack to trouble their hosts.
How the Game Unfolded
The first half ended goalless, though a goal from Elijah Dijkstra for AZ Alkmaar in the 23rd minute was ruled out following a VAR review.
Ro-Zangelo Daal broke the deadlock in the 61st minute, putting AZ Alkmaar ahead. Calvin Stengs, a substitute, then doubled the advantage in the 68th minute, with Kees Smit providing the assist to make it 2-0.
Juho Kilo was booked for ADO Den Haag in the 74th minute, the only disciplinary action of the match. Both coaches made further changes in the final stages, though neither side altered the scoreline. AZ Alkmaar ran out 2-0 winners, keeping a clean sheet throughout.
The Numbers
The statistics painted a clear picture of AZ’s dominance over the course of the match. The home side edged possession at 54% to ADO’s 46%, but the more telling figures came in the quality of chances created. AZ registered 12 total shots, with 10 of those coming from inside the box — a strong indicator of their ability to work themselves into dangerous positions. Of those efforts, four were on target, which proved enough for two goals.
Perhaps the most striking statistic was the expected goals figure. AZ accumulated an xG of 2.67, closely aligned with their actual output of two goals and reflecting the genuine quality of the opportunities they carved out. ADO Den Haag, by contrast, registered an xG of just 0.95, underlining how limited their attacking threat truly was throughout the ninety minutes. AZ completed 389 of their 470 passes for an accuracy rate of 83%, while ADO Den Haag completed 320 of their 405, and also earned nine corner kicks to ADO’s seven. ADO did commit more fouls — 14 to AZ’s nine — and picked up the only yellow card of the match.
Conclusion
This was a disciplined and efficient performance from AZ Alkmaar, who made their superiority count in a decisive seven-minute spell between the 61st and 68th minutes. ADO Den Haag showed enough to suggest they were competitive for the opening hour, but ultimately lacked the clinical edge needed to test their hosts. The numbers confirm what the scoreline suggests: AZ were the better side by a clear margin.
