Parrott strikes late to lift hosts into fifth | OneFootball

AZ beat Sparta Rotterdam 3-1 at the AFAS Stadion, climbing from sixth to fifth in the Eredivisie as the visitors slipped to seventh.

Sven Mijnans broke the deadlock in the 65th minute, glancing a header into the centre of the goal from Mateo Chávez's delivery.

Kees Smit doubled the lead with a tidy finish after a low ball from Mees de Wit (83.). Milan Zonneveld pulled one back with a header from Casper Terho's cross (87.). Troy Parrott restored the two-goal cushion when he finished from Jeroen Zoet's pass (90.).

Second half changes told. Mijnans struck soon after coming on, while fellow substitutes de Wit and Smit combined for the second.

Jeroen Zoet preserved the cushion in second half stoppage time, tipping over Zonneveld's goalbound header.

AZ posted five shots on target from 11 attempts. Sparta Rotterdam mustered 12 attempts and seven corners but lacked the final touch.

Next, AZ host Noah in the UEFA Conference League. Sparta Rotterdam visit Heerenveen next.