AZ Alkmaar Routs Ararat-Armenia 4-0 in Europa League

A direct free kick into the top corner in the 20th minute opened the floodgates, and AZ never let up from there. The Dutch side thrashed Ararat-Armenia 4-0 at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, in a Europa League league phase match that was effectively decided before halftime and turned into a stroll in the second half.

The opening blow came from Valdemar Byskov, who curled a right-footed free kick into the top corner with the home goalkeeper unable to do anything about it. Just six minutes later came the second: Weslley Patati, set up by Seiya Maikuma, finished with his left foot from the right side of the box, low and tight to the post. Ararat-Armenia went into the break down 0-2, with the sense that the match was already all but settled.

The second half brought more of the same, with AZ controlling the ball and creating chances without much urgency until, past the hour mark, they struck again. In the 75th minute, Patati popped up once more, this time finishing with his left foot from the center of the box after an assist from Ro-Zangelo Daal, to make it 0-3. Three minutes later, Mexx Meerdink headed home from close range off a cross from Patati himself, sealing the rout at 0-4.

Dominance reflected in the numbers

The stats back up what was clear on the field: a match with one clear owner of both the ball and the chances.

AZ didn't just have more possession and more shots, they were also more efficient. According to our own expected goals estimate, calculated from the shots taken in the match, the visitors generated 1.54 xG against Ararat-Armenia's 0.617 xG, a gap that ended up showing clearly in the final score.

What stands out is that the result far exceeded what we projected before kickoff. Our preview gave AZ a 48% chance of winning, Ararat-Armenia 24%, and a draw 28%, with expected goals of 1.11 for the home side and 1.65 for the visitors. AZ didn't just win: they did it with a forcefulness none of those numbers anticipated, scoring four goals and keeping their opponents off the scoresheet.

What it means in the standings

The result leaves Ararat-Armenia still without a single point: after tonight's scoreline, the Armenian side sits at 0 points from 3 matches played, with no wins or draws, and a goal difference of -9. A stat that sums up where the team stands in this edition of the league phase, where it has yet to get on the board.

For AZ, the rout confirms the superiority they showed from start to finish. With Patati as the offensive standout, scoring twice, and Meerdink also getting on the scoresheet, the Dutch side leaves with a solid showing on a night when everything went their way, from the opening free kick to the header that closed out the scoring.