Decisive figure off the bench turns it for AZ | OneFootball

Sven Mijnans changed it in the 65th minute with a well-placed header, setting AZ on course to beat Sparta Rotterdam 3-1.

Moments after coming on, Mijnans drifted into the centre to glance in Mateo Chávez's cross (65.), the substitute puncturing a tight contest.

From there he linked play with calm passes into the final third, completing five in that zone and drawing a foul as AZ kept the visitors pushed back.

He finished with one goal from his only attempt, 13 accurate passes from 17, and two recoveries, a tidy cameo that shifted the momentum.

Fresh legs and neat timing between the lines gave AZ a penalty box target for crosses, and his movement helped open lanes that Sparta's centre backs could not close quickly enough.

AZ climb from sixth to fifth in the Eredivisie and host Noah in the UEFA Conference League next. Sparta Rotterdam drop from fifth to seventh and visit Heerenveen next.