NAC Breda staged a breathless comeback to snatch a 3-3 draw at the AFAS Stadion, refusing to go quietly despite already being relegated from the Eredivisie — and in doing so, dealt a significant blow to AZ Alkmaar's hopes of securing European qualification on the final day of the season.
The hosts had seemingly taken control of this humdrum affair, building a two-goal advantage and appearing to be cruising toward the points. Yet the visitors' resilience proved unshakeable. Moussa Soumano dragged them level with a quickfire double either side of the 65-minute mark, before substitute Juho Talvitie snatched an improbable third in the 89th minute to snatch a share of the spoils and leave AZ's European dreams hanging in the balance.
How the match unfolded
AZ dominated possession throughout — holding 86 per cent of the ball and carving out 16 attempts, ten of which found the target. Yet for long stretches they lacked the cutting edge to put the tie beyond reach. NAC, already consigned to the second tier, arrived with limited ambition but gradually grew into the contest as the home side's control proved sterile.
The breakthrough came inside the first half as AZ moved into a commanding position. The home side's superiority in midfield — orchestrated by the tireless Sven Mijnans, who finished with a goal and an assist — allowed them to fashion space down the flanks. By half-time, they held the advantage and controlled the narrative.
But the second half took an extraordinary turn. On 61 minutes, Soumano met Cherrion Valerius' delivery with a close-range header to halve the deficit at 2-1, sparking a transformation in the visitors' belief. Just ten minutes later, on 71, the striker struck again — this time nodding home from Fredrik Oldrup Jensen's cross — to level at 2-2 and set the AFAS Stadion ablaze with tension.
AZ pressed for a winner in the closing stages, but their legs seemed to tire as NAC's desperate energy carried them forward. With the clock ticking toward a draw, the visitors struck the killer blow on 89 minutes when substitute Talvitie, introduced in the 55th-minute overhaul, swept home Valerius' assist to seal an improbable 3-3.
Key moments & standouts
Rome Jayden Owusu-Oduro earned man-of-the-match honours with a commanding 9.2 rating, his defensive presence and distribution keeping AZ's back line resolute despite the chaos unfolding around him. Mijnans pressed hard with an 8.7 rating, his energy through the centre and one goal underlining his importance to the home side's ambitions. For NAC, Soumano's 8.3 rating reflected the clinical nature of his finishing — two composed finishes from limited sight that breathed life into a team that had seemed destined for an easy afternoon.
The turning point arrived on 59 minutes when Rio Hillen picked up a yellow card for a foul, signalling NAC's desperation to disrupt AZ's rhythm. But the numerical disadvantage never materialised, and instead the visitors began to press higher, suffocating their hosts' midfield with relentless intensity. AZ had 92 per cent possession at one stage, yet fatigue set in as the match wore on, and NAC's substitutions — Candelaria, Talvitie, and Brym all introduced after 54 minutes — injected fresh legs that proved decisive.
As one-footer.com noted, Soumano's brace "changed the narrative" and fired NAC's comeback, transforming what had looked a comfortable home victory into a chaotic final act that left AZ's European credentials in serious doubt.
What's next?
The draw leaves AZ Alkmaar's Champions League ambitions on a knife-edge heading into the final fixtures. According to ESPN, the Citizens must now secure an immediate result in their remaining matches to guarantee European football — a far cry from the commanding position they held with 45 minutes played. For NAC Breda, already relegated, the point offers at least a shred of dignity in what has been a desperately disappointing campaign. Their season ends with unanswered questions about recruitment and tactical direction, but this draw proved they possessed the character to fight when the odds seemed insurmountable.