Rotterdam’s De Kuip provided the first real setback of AZ Alkmaar’s Eredivisie campaign as Feyenoord won 2-0, ending the visitors’ eight-match unbeaten opening and moving above them at the summit. Mexico left-back Mateo Chávez started for AZ and was involved at both ends, but his side could not find the goal needed to revive the contest.
Key takeaways
- Feyenoord moved into first place in the Dutch league with a 2-0 home victory.
- AZ’s record now stands at six wins, one draw and one defeat, leaving them on 19 points in third.
- Ignacio Ferri opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after breaking beyond Wouter Goes.
- A VAR review overturned an AZ penalty shortly before half-time.
- Javi López added the second from a corner in the 59th minute, getting ahead of Chávez.
Feyenoord turn pressure into control
The home side began with authority and made their early momentum count after 22 minutes. Ferri took advantage of a lapse in the AZ back line, escaped behind Goes and drove a right-footed finish beyond the goalkeeper.
AZ appeared to have been handed a route back into the match four minutes before the interval. Mexx Meerdink went down in the area following contact with Tjark Ernst and the referee initially awarded a spot-kick. The decision did not survive the video review, however, and Feyenoord retained their one-goal advantage at the break.
Chávez was soon close to making a direct impact after the restart. In the 49th minute, a loose ball fell to the Mexican inside the Feyenoord area, but his attempted finish was charged down and diverted behind for a corner.
Instead, Feyenoord delivered the decisive blow 10 minutes later. From a corner of their own, López reached the ball before Chávez and struck with his right foot to double the lead.
Chávez creates late opening but AZ fall short
AZ continued to push from the left, with Chávez among those trying to force a late response. His cross in the 80th minute found Meerdink unmarked, but the forward sent his volley over the crossbar when a goal would have reduced the deficit.
Feyenoord’s defence remained composed through the closing stages, and there were only three added minutes for AZ to chase an unlikely recovery. No breakthrough came, confirming the Alkmaar club’s first league loss of the season.
The result ends AZ’s unbeaten sequence across the opening eight rounds and removes them from top spot. Feyenoord used the occasion in Rotterdam to take control of the Eredivisie lead, while Chávez and his teammates return to Alkmaar in third place.
