Parrott's 30th goal of season clinches Dutch Cup final spot for AZ

TALISMANIC TROY: Parrott on the score sheet again for AZ Alkmaar. Pic: Marcel Bonte//Getty

KNVB Cup semi-final: AZ Alkmaar 2 Telstar 1 

Troy Parrott may have to appeal to the Dutch equivalent of the Dubious Goals Committee for his 30th goal this season after he helped AZ Alkmaar reach the Cup final again.

In front of a packed AFOS Stadion, AZ finally forged ahead two minutes into the second half when Telstar captain Danny Bakker turned the ball into his net with Irish striker Parrott lurking.

Four minutes later, the 24-year-old looked to have got the final touch after goalkeeper Ronald Koeman junior was left floundering from a corner.

While Parrott was credited with the goal by the stadium announcer, some external outlets designated it another own-goal, this time to Neville Ogidi Nwankwo.

Parrott was reinstated to the starting line-up after being rotated for Sunday’s defeat at Utrecht that left AZ in sixth place of the Eredivisie.

He was a lively presence in attack during a first half of few chances. His sole sight on goal was a header he glanced over the crossbar in stoppage time.

Frustration changed to elation shortly after the restart through the pair of goals inside six minutes. The hosts made hard work of seeing out the semi-final, allowing Kay Tejan half the arrears with a deflected finish 16 minutes from full-time but they got there.

They now meet NEC in the decider after the team from Nijmegen shocked runaway league leaders 3-2 in Monday’s other semi-final.

Parrott scored in last year’s KNVB final but ended up on the losing side against Go Ahead Eagles.

He completed the 98 minutes without any injury concerns and has another four five before he reports for duty with the Ireland team for the World Cup playoff semi-final away to Czechia.

AZ travel to PSV on Saturday before they meet Sparta Prague in the Conference League last-16, either side of meeting Heracles in the league. His final scheduled game before the international break is away to Groningen on March 22.