AZ Alkmaar may have reached the cup final in midweek but they were brought back down to earth by Excelsior on Sunday.
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John van den Brom’s side went into the tie on the back of the penalty shoot-out victory over Cambuur in midweek, but they had only won once in their last eight games.
The home side started brightly, though, and deservedly took the lead in the twentieth minute as Joris van Overeem sent Dabney Dos Santos through on goal, and although his first two efforts were stopped, the winger finally found the net with his third strike.
However, AZ failed to add to their lead and in the 60th minute, Ron Vlaar went to clear a cross but scuffed his clearance into the path of Mike van Duinen, who finished past Tim Krul from a tight angle.
The hosts pushed for a winner in the last half an hour, but Excelsior held on to claim a point. AZ remain fifth while Excelsior are 16th.
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