AZ Alkmaar produced a commanding display to beat NEC Nijmegen 5-1 in the Dutch Cup final on Sunday at Feyenoord Stadium in Rotterdam.
The result gave AZ their fifth Dutch Cup title and their first in 13 years. It also secured a place in next season’s Europa League league phase.
AZ controlled the match for long spells and took a deserved lead in the 32nd minute. Left back Mees de Wit finished from close range after Ro-Zangelo Daal drove to the byline on the left and created the opening.
NEC Nijmegen pulled a goal back in the 78th minute through Japanese striker Koki Ogawa, briefly giving their supporters hope of a comeback.
AZ quickly ended that threat and finished the match emphatically. Kees Smit, the newly capped Dutch international, chipped NEC goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen in stoppage time to make it 4-1. Ireland international Troy Parrott then added another goal deep into added time, with his close-range effort taking a deflection on its way in.
AZ also had another effort from Mijnans ruled out for offside in the build-up five minutes from time, but the decision did little to change the outcome as the team remained firmly in control.
The victory carries extra weight for AZ after their recent European disappointment. The club exited the Conference League quarter-finals last Thursday after losing to Shakhtar Donetsk, but they responded with a major domestic trophy.
For NEC Nijmegen, the defeat extended a painful record in the competition. The club has now lost all six Dutch Cup finals it has reached.
