Vitesse Arnhem defeated AZ Alkmaar 2-1 on Sunday thanks to a last second penalty scored by Matus Bero.

AZ headed to an in-form Vitesse on the back of their extra-time win over Antwerp on Thursday. New signing Dani de Wit came straight into the starting eleven.

The game was open from the start with both sides missing good chances to take the lead. In the 30th minute, Myron Boadu was brought down in the box and Teun Koopmeiners scored from the spot to make it 1-0 for AZ.

In first-half injury time, Tim Matavz equalised for the hosts with a fierce strike from close range after he beat Ron Vlaar to a cross.

Vitesse came close ten minutes from time but Danilho Doekhi hit the post with a strike. At the other end, debutante Zakaria Aboukhlal put a volley over the bar from a good position.

The game was heading for a draw but in injury time, Aboukhlal unfortunately handled in the box. Matus Bero’s spot kick was saved before Oussama Darfalou netted the rebound. VAR spotted encroachment by Darfalou and two AZ defenders, so the spot kick was retaken and this time, Bero made no mistake.

The win puts Vitesse above Ajax into 1st place while AZ Alkmaar are 7th.




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