SC Heerenveen vs AZ Alkmaar

AZ Alkmaar came away from Abe Lenstra Stadion with a dramatic 2-3 win over Heerenveen, rallying from a halftime deficit to keep their unbeaten Eredivisie run intact. It looked like it might go the other way for most of the afternoon, with the home side controlling long stretches of play before AZ's bench turned the game. Ro-Zangelo Daal struck early for the visitors in the 7th minute, but Nolhan Courtens leveled things up in the 21st and Ringo Meerveld put Heerenveen 2-1 up with a deflected effort just before the break. AZ needed a response and got one after the restart: Mexx Meerdink equalized from distance in the 69th minute, and substitute Ayoub Oufkir, on the pitch only briefly, netted the winner in the 83rd minute on the counter. Daal and Oufkir both picked up yellow cards, but there were no dismissals. Heerenveen pushed late through Roberts Uldrikis and Vasilios Zagaritis without finding an equalizer. The result stings for Heerenveen, who arguably deserved something from a game they led for most of the second half, and they stay on five points after five rounds. For AZ, it's another sign of resilience under coach Leeroy Echteld, whose substitutions again proved decisive as the club stays perfect at the top of the table.