16 Apr 2026

AZ Alkmaar 2-2 Shakhtar Donetsk: visitors finish the job on aggregate

Shakhtar Donetsk completed the UEFA Conference League quarterfinal tie in Alkmaar with a 2-2 draw at AFAS Stadion, progressing 5-2 on aggregate. After a quiet first half, the game opened up with four goals after the break. AZ pushed late, but Shakhtar’s earlier work from the first leg did the heavy lifting.

Second half comes alive

Alisson Santana broke the deadlock on 58 minutes, finishing with his left foot after Kauã Elias carried the move and supplied the final pass. AZ answered through Isak Steiner Jensen, who made it 1-1 in the 73rd minute. Matěj Šín then put the hosts ahead seven minutes later, capping a nicely worked move involving Ayoub Oufkir and Bendegúz Kovács.

Shakhtar had the last word. Substitutes Lucas Ferreira and Luca Meirelles combined in the 83rd minute, with Ferreira slipping a pass for Meirelles to tuck in the equalizer. It sealed the draw on the night and a comfortable 5-2 win across the two legs.

Impact subs on both sides

AZ’s changes turned the game. Jensen came on at half-time and immediately added thrust between the lines. Oufkir’s delivery on the right and Kovács’ presence in the box were central to Šín’s strike for 2-1.

Shakhtar’s bench answered back. Ferreira entered on 70 minutes and posted an assist 13 minutes later. Meirelles, also on from the 70th, produced three shots and the decisive goal to level the score. Arda Turan’s side managed the closing stages well, even after bookings to Vinícius Tobias, Eguinaldo and captain Mykola Matvienko.

What the numbers say

Shakhtar carried the bigger attacking threat overall with 14 shots to AZ’s 8 and a 1.51 xG to 0.85. AZ had more of the ball at 54% possession and finished with 57 final-third entries, but Shakhtar were more incisive when it mattered. Offside traps were busy too, with the visitors flagged seven times.

Goalkeepers had contrasting workloads. Jeroen Zoet made four saves for AZ, while Dmytro Riznyk was largely protected, facing three shots on target. Referee Sven Jablonski showed eight yellow cards in a competitive quarterfinal, including a first-half booking for AZ coach Leeroy Echteld.

Who stood out on Sofascore

– Isak Steiner Jensen was AZ’s standout with a Sofascore Rating of 8.6 after his equalizer and constant involvement.
– Alisson Santana led Shakhtar’s charge early and earned an 8.1, scoring the opener and driving play from midfield.
– Luca Meirelles stepped off the bench to score the 83rd-minute leveler and posted a 7.8.
– Maxim Dekker anchored AZ well at the back with a solid 7.0, while Matěj Šín’s goal lifted him to 7.3.

Fans can dig into full player stats, heatmaps and every Sofascore Rating from this tie on Sofascore. AZ can take positives from the response after half-time, but Shakhtar’s clinical moments and first-leg cushion proved decisive as they move on from the quarterfinals.