AZ Alkmaar vs ADO Den Haag

AZ Alkmaar got their Eredivisie campaign off to a winning start with a comfortable 2-0 home victory over newly-promoted Den Haag at AFAS Stadion. The standout moment came just before the hour mark when VAR chalked off what looked like an opening goal for the hosts, ruling out Elijah Dijkstra's 23rd-minute finish for a shirt pull by Mexx Meerdink on Pascal Mulder. Den Haag held firm and even threatened through Finn de Bruin and Sekou Sylla early in the second half, but AZ eventually broke the deadlock when Ro-Zangelo Daal struck in the 61st minute. Calvin Stengs doubled the lead seven minutes later, finishing off a slick counterattack set up by Kees Smit, who was later named Player of the Match. Juho Kilo picked up a yellow card in the 74th minute as things got a little feisty late on. It's a solid opening statement from AZ, who dominated territory and chances throughout. For Den Haag, back in the top flight after five years away, it's a tough but not disastrous reintroduction — they matched their hosts for large spells before class told in the final third.