Dutch Cup wrap: AZ abandon Ajax tie after fan invasion

Heerenveen thrashed Eerste Divisie outfit Oss 11-1 in the Dutch Cup on Wednesday, but Ajax’s hosting of AZ Alkmaar stole the headlines.

The match between first and fourth on the Eredivisie table at Amsterdam ArenA had to be suspended after 38 minutes, with Ajax leading 1-0.

AZ coach Gertjan Verbeek ordered his players from the field after his goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado was sent off for kicking a supporter who had attacked him on the pitch.

Stewards intervened and took the Ajax supporter away but referee Bas Nijhuis showed the AZ shot-stopper a straight red card for misconduct, much to the dismay of Verbeek.

Verbeek entered the pitch and ordered his players to head for the dressing rooms.

Representatives of both sides and match officials decided to cancel the game, and it is unclear what the consequences will be for AZ.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, Heerenveen put Oss to the sword at the Abe Lenstra Stadion, banging in 11 goals to crush the second-tier side.

Rajiv van la Parra, Filip Djuricic, Bas Dost and Luciano Narsingh all scored doubles for Heerenveen, while Sven Kums, Daryl Janmaat and Jeffrey Gouweleeuw added single strikes.

Christopher Bieber provided the only joy for Oss, who had defender Dennis Janssen sent off just before the half-hour mark.

NEC Nijmegen claimed a 3-0 win over Topklasse outfit Achilles ’29, with Krisztian Vadocz, John Goosens and Melvin Platje scoring the goals for the home side.