Shelbourne FC 0, AZ 2

ALKMAAR, Netherlands (Interstat) — AZ Alkmaar opened its Europa League campaign with a commanding 2-0 victory over Shelbourne FC at AFAS Stadion on Thursday, overcoming a stubborn defensive effort from the Irish visitors with two late goals. The match, which saw the home side heavily favored, played out largely as expected with AZ controlling possession and creating the majority of chances. However, Shelbourne’s disciplined defensive block frustrated the Dutch side for the majority of the contest, keeping the match scoreless until the final twenty minutes. The breakthrough finally came in the 70th minute, breaking the deadlock after a series of… Read more...