AZ Alkmaar’s poor start to the season continued on Saturday with Fortuna Sittard battling back from 3-1 down to earn a 3-3 draw.
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AZ went into the game looking for their first league win of the season, but they were without Oussama Idrissi, Ron Vlaar, Jordy Clasie, and the suspended Calvin Stengs. Zakaria Aboukhlal came into the starting eleven, while Timo Letschert and Pantelis Hatzidiakos were the centre-backs.
After only nine minutes, AZ found themselves behind as Zian Flemming found space to hammer a strike from distance past Marco Bizot.
AZ equalised in the 23rd minute through Dani De Wit, who fired past Aleksei Koselev after Albert Gudmundsson’s effort was blocked. Owen Wijndal, Aboukhlal, and Myron Boadu then missed chances to give AZ the lead before the break.
Seven minutes into the second half, Teun Koopmeiners did make it 2-1 with a measured strike after Koselev spilled the ball. Boadu then seemed to seal the victory for the visitors when he was set up by De Wit to make it 3-1 with a tap-in.
However, Emil Hansson pulled one back with a low strike in the 79th minute to give the hosts hope. It appeared to be in vain as AZ held on, but in the sixth minute of added time, Flemming’s strike in the box beat Bizot to earn Fortuna Sittard a point.
AZ now only have two points from their opening three games, while Fortuna Sittard get their first point of the season.