AZ Alkmaar vs Gent

The match was played over two 50-minute halves at the grounds of Dutch amateur club VV Dirkshorn. AZ took the lead in the 41st minute when Ro-Zangelo Daal scored from a free-kick situation. Gent responded immediately — Tiago Araújo's driven cross from the left flank was met by Wilfried Kanga, who placed the ball low into the right corner to make it 1-1 at the break.

Gent manager Rik De Mil made ten changes at half-time, keeping only goalkeeper Kjell Peersman on the pitch. The wholesale rotation disrupted Gent's rhythm, and AZ capitalised in the 55th minute when Matěj Šín fired home from distance to make it 2-1.

Gent struggled to create chances until the final quarter. Max Dean's powerful shot from range was parried by AZ keeper Jari De Busser — a former Gent player — and Hugo Gambor reacted quickest to slot home the rebound in the 79th minute. Three minutes later, Dean collected the ball, drove forward and finished clinically into the right corner to put Gent 3-2 ahead.

But the lead lasted only three minutes. A loose ball in the Gent penalty area fell to Weslley Patati, who smashed home the equaliser in the 86th minute to make it 3-3.

Gent's mass substitution at half-time — ten changes in one go — disrupted the team's shape and allowed AZ to regain control early in the second period. Šín's goal came within ten minutes of the restart. Yet De Mil's strategy also paid off: all three second-half substitutes who scored (Gambor, Dean) had entered at the break. The gamble produced a two-goal flurry but not the win.

Max Dean (Gent) — The forward scored once and created another, forcing the save that led to Gambor's rebound before scoring a fine solo goal. His direct running changed the game after the interval.

Weslley Patati (AZ Alkmaar) — The Brazilian winger popped up with the 86th-minute equaliser that salvaged the draw for AZ, arriving at the right time to capitalise on a loose ball.

Tiago Araújo (Gent) — The left-back provided the cross for Kanga's equaliser in the first half and was a consistent attacking outlet before being substituted at half-time.

Kjell Peersman (Gent) — The goalkeeper made a key early save to deny Mijnans one-on-one in the 18th minute, keeping Gent in the contest before the quick-fire double.

The 3-3 scoreline and the 41st-42nd minute double (Daal then Kanga) reflect the back-and-forth nature of the contest rather than any sustained dominance. The match was played in two 50-minute halves — 20% longer than a standard period — which gave both sides more time to engineer comebacks. Gent's 10 half-time substitutions (versus AZ's 0) tells the story of two different approaches to pre-season fitness: AZ prioritised continuity, while De Mil gave minutes to nearly his entire squad. The three goals in the final 15 minutes (79', 83', 86') suggest fatigue played a role as both defences tired.

For Gent, this was their second pre-season outing following a 6-1 win over KFC Merelbeke on 27 June. The draw against an Eredivisie side that will play in the Europa League this season represents a step up in test quality. Gent's competitive season begins on 23 July with the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round first leg away to Ukrainian side LNZ Cherkasy. AZ continue their pre-season schedule ahead of their own European campaign.

A chaotic, entertaining friendly that offered both managers useful information. Gent's first XI looked solid in the opening period, while the second-string showed goal threat but defensive vulnerability. AZ's continuity approach nearly paid off — they led twice — but they could not hold off Gent's late surge. The 3-3 draw was a fair reflection of two teams at different stages of their pre-season build-up.