AZ denied by SBV Excelsior in six-goal draw

AZ twice fought back from a goal down to lead against SBV Excelsior, only for the visitors to equalise at the death in a topsy-turvy 3-3 draw at the AFAS Stadion on Sunday.

The visitors took the lead as early as the 10th minute when Jordan Botaka played a great ball in to Adil Auassar, who duly struck home.

AZ pushed forward in a bid to find an equaliser and threatened through Muamer Tankovic and Jeffrey Gouweleeuw, before eventually pulling themselves level through Nemanja Gudelj just after the half-hour mark.

However, Excelsior restored their one-goal advantage when Khalid Karami, assisted by Sander Fischer, struck with five minutes to go in the first half.

The hosts, undeterred, were level again in the 68th minute when Kevin van Diermen bundled the ball into his own net.

And just five minutes later, AZ took the lead for the first time in the game through Tankovic.

This was not to last, however, with another twist in the tale coming courtesy of Carlo de Reuver, whose 85th-minute equaliser meant that both sides would share the points in an enthralling Eredivisie clash.