Relief at AZ after long-awaited league victory: “We have always stayed close together”

AZ Alkmaar have remembered how to win again, with a timely 2-1 triumph away against Sparta Rotterdam. Sven Mijnans was the decisive goal-getter in the second half to help AZ end a series of six league matches without a win, signalling club-wide relief and optimism.

Peer Koopmeiners opened the scoring after just nine minutes of play. The midfielder took advantage of the sun in the face of Sparta goalie Nick Olij, who was unable to react to his long-range shot.

The home side hit back through Tobias Lauritsen’s fine left-footed finish. However, AZ captain Mijnans eventually stepped up as the match-winner, getting the ball somewhat fortunately at his feet and firing in off the inside of the post with 73 minutes on the clock.

Mijnans was, of course, one of the happiest figures in the AZ ranks. Speaking of this welcome boost for his team: “This is nice after a bad period. It wasn’t a great match for us, because we often missed the second balls. As a result, we didn’t get a grip on the match. I’m very happy that we won here and that I scored the winning goal.”

Koopmeiners revealed the secret of the AZ squad in hard times. “It sounds crazy, but we always stayed close to each other and tried to stay calm. That was our strength. A certain feeling had to be created again and we did that well during the international period. This gives a lot of self-confidence.”

GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield