Holders AZ Alkmaar are through to the quarter-finals of the KNVB Cup after a penalty shoot-out win over Heerenveen at the AFAS Stadion.
- By Michael Bell
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Heerenveen took the lead on nine minutes with midfielder Hakim Ziyech firing an excellent free kick on the edge of the box into the top corner off the crossbar.
AZ Alkmaar equalised through Aron Johannsson, who finished from close range after Kristoffer Nordfeldt saved Nemanja Gudelj’s effort.
Both sides had chances to win the game, but in the end extra time was needed, and AZ Alkmaar thought they found the winning goal in the 105th minute, as Johannsson finished off a flick header by Gudelj.
However in the final minute of extra-time Heerenveen were awarded a penalty for a foul by Viktor Elm, and Ziyech made no mistake to send the match into penalties.
In the shootout, Yannic Wildschut missed his vital penalty to give AZ Alkmaar a 7-6 win after both Ziyech and Gudelj had also missed from 16-yards.
Dick Advocaat’s men scrape into the next round, and are still in with a chance of retaining their title in April’s final.
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