IRELAND INTERNATIONAL Troy Parrott continued his excellent season, as AZ Alkmaar drew 1-1 at home to Excelsior in the Eredivisie this evening.
The Dubliner opened the scoring on 65 minutes, demonstrating intelligent movement before scoring an easy tap-in after an initial shot by Dutch youngster Kees Smit was saved.
However, substitute Miliano Jonathans scored a late equaliser to earn his side, who are 14th in the table, a point.
The result leaves AZ seventh in the Dutch top flight, behind Twente and ahead of Sparta Rotterdam on goal difference, and 23 points adrift of runaway leaders PSV.
Parrott’s side earlier this week changed manager – Maarten Martens was sacked following a poor run of form, with Leeroy Echteld promoted from the reserve team to take charge for the rest of the season.
The 23-year-old has had a more consistent season individually than the team. Tonight’s strike was his 20th goal from 26 appearances at club level, including a hat-trick in the cup against Ajax last week, while he also scored five goals in two games for Ireland during the November World Cup qualifiers against Portugal and Hungary.
Troy Parrott maakt zijn tiende competitiegoal dit seizoen en komt op gelijke hoogte met Jizz Hornkamp 🎯#azexcpic.twitter.com/yTjbmOzq5s
Elsewhere, Sunderland loanee Alan Browne impressed for Middlesbrough in the Championship tonight.
The Cork native has spent the majority of his career as a midfielder, but has been playing at right-back more recently.
Browne registered a goal and an assist as Kim Hellberg’s side beat Stoke City 2-1.
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It was the 30-year-old’s second from 23 appearances in all competitions this season for the promotion contenders, who moved up to second in the table after tonight’s win.
Browne was included in manager Heimir Hallgrímsson’s first Ireland squad for the September 2024 international window, but has not featured since.
Having had limited game time with the Black Cats last season, the experienced international will hope his upturn in form can help him earn a recall ahead of the World Cup qualification playoffs in March.
Former Ireland U21 international Alex Gilbert also featured for Boro, while another contender for the March squad, Bosun Lawal, started at full-back for Stoke, though he was sent off after picking up a second booking in the 77th minute.
Slovakian Tomas Rigo’s first goal in 21 appearances for the Potters gave the home team a deserved interval lead and a brief return to a play-off spot.
Browne equalised after 48 minutes – the first goal conceded by Stoke in 2026 following four clean sheets – before centring superbly for Tommy Conway to register his fourth goal of the season 11 minutes later as the second tier’s meanest defence was cracked again.
Stoke’s misery was complete 15 minutes from time when Lawal received a second booking for a tackle on Aidan Morris.
Middlesbrough’s third successive league win was a relief to goalkeeper Sol Brynn for his part in Rigo’s goal.
Defender Matt Targett initially conceded possession, but there was no imminent danger. However, the former Banik Ostrava midfielder’s low 20-yard shot ended up in the net as Brynn failed to push the ball away.
Boro came from 2-0 down to beat West Brom 3-2 last Friday and again proved slow starters.
Brynn partially atoned after 28 minutes, tipping Million Manhoef’s left foot curler onto the crossbar, before Tommy Simkin, deputising for Stoke’s injured new goalkeeper, Gavin Bazunu – was eventually called into action 10 minutes before half-time.
Simkin could not hold Morris’ attempt from outside the area, but Ben Wilmot cleared the loose ball.
He also spilt Boro’s next effort from Targett, but Morgan Whittaker was offside as he tried to net the rebound.
Brynn was next in action, saving Lamine Cisse’s close-range attempt at the expense of a corner in a lively end to an entertaining first period.
It was too lively for Hellberg, who brought on West Brom matchwinner Delano Burgzorg and Leo Castledine for Gilbert and Sam Silvera after the break.
Within three minutes, the Teessiders levelled. Simkin kept out efforts from Hayden Hackney and Morris before Browne smashed in the loose ball from four yards.
Luke Ayling’s tackle on Lawal earned the former Leeds man only a booking from referee Adam Herczeg — not the red card demanded by home fans.
There was further unrest when the visitors completed their comeback. Browne was the provider with a sweet delivery from the right, and although Conway scuffed his first attempt, he recovered quickest to swivel and tap the ball home from inches out.
Simkin prevented the scorer from doubling his tally after 66 minutes to keep Stoke in contention.
Brynn palmed away Sorba Thomas’s 80th-minute free-kick and kept out Cisse’s stoppage-time header to ensure Boro’s win.
Meanwhile, Chelsea and Manchester United will contest the Women’s League Cup final after 1-0 away wins over Manchester City and Arsenal, respectively.
Both sides scored just before half-time: Wieke Kaptein on target as defending champions Chelsea reached a seventh successive decider, while Elisabeth Terland’s effort was the difference for United.
Ireland captain Katie McCabe played the full game for Arsenal.
Additional reporting by Emma Duffy and Press Association
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Parrott scores 20th of the season, Ireland international registers goal and assist in Championship
Updated at 22.24
IRELAND INTERNATIONAL Troy Parrott continued his excellent season, as AZ Alkmaar drew 1-1 at home to Excelsior in the Eredivisie this evening.
The Dubliner opened the scoring on 65 minutes, demonstrating intelligent movement before scoring an easy tap-in after an initial shot by Dutch youngster Kees Smit was saved.
However, substitute Miliano Jonathans scored a late equaliser to earn his side, who are 14th in the table, a point.
The result leaves AZ seventh in the Dutch top flight, behind Twente and ahead of Sparta Rotterdam on goal difference, and 23 points adrift of runaway leaders PSV.
Parrott’s side earlier this week changed manager – Maarten Martens was sacked following a poor run of form, with Leeroy Echteld promoted from the reserve team to take charge for the rest of the season.
The 23-year-old has had a more consistent season individually than the team. Tonight’s strike was his 20th goal from 26 appearances at club level, including a hat-trick in the cup against Ajax last week, while he also scored five goals in two games for Ireland during the November World Cup qualifiers against Portugal and Hungary.
Elsewhere, Sunderland loanee Alan Browne impressed for Middlesbrough in the Championship tonight.
The Cork native has spent the majority of his career as a midfielder, but has been playing at right-back more recently.
Browne registered a goal and an assist as Kim Hellberg’s side beat Stoke City 2-1.
It was the 30-year-old’s second from 23 appearances in all competitions this season for the promotion contenders, who moved up to second in the table after tonight’s win.
Browne was included in manager Heimir Hallgrímsson’s first Ireland squad for the September 2024 international window, but has not featured since.
Having had limited game time with the Black Cats last season, the experienced international will hope his upturn in form can help him earn a recall ahead of the World Cup qualification playoffs in March.
Former Ireland U21 international Alex Gilbert also featured for Boro, while another contender for the March squad, Bosun Lawal, started at full-back for Stoke, though he was sent off after picking up a second booking in the 77th minute.
Slovakian Tomas Rigo’s first goal in 21 appearances for the Potters gave the home team a deserved interval lead and a brief return to a play-off spot.
Browne equalised after 48 minutes – the first goal conceded by Stoke in 2026 following four clean sheets – before centring superbly for Tommy Conway to register his fourth goal of the season 11 minutes later as the second tier’s meanest defence was cracked again.
Stoke’s misery was complete 15 minutes from time when Lawal received a second booking for a tackle on Aidan Morris.
Middlesbrough’s third successive league win was a relief to goalkeeper Sol Brynn for his part in Rigo’s goal.
Defender Matt Targett initially conceded possession, but there was no imminent danger. However, the former Banik Ostrava midfielder’s low 20-yard shot ended up in the net as Brynn failed to push the ball away.
Boro came from 2-0 down to beat West Brom 3-2 last Friday and again proved slow starters.
Brynn partially atoned after 28 minutes, tipping Million Manhoef’s left foot curler onto the crossbar, before Tommy Simkin, deputising for Stoke’s injured new goalkeeper, Gavin Bazunu – was eventually called into action 10 minutes before half-time.
Simkin could not hold Morris’ attempt from outside the area, but Ben Wilmot cleared the loose ball.
He also spilt Boro’s next effort from Targett, but Morgan Whittaker was offside as he tried to net the rebound.
Brynn was next in action, saving Lamine Cisse’s close-range attempt at the expense of a corner in a lively end to an entertaining first period.
It was too lively for Hellberg, who brought on West Brom matchwinner Delano Burgzorg and Leo Castledine for Gilbert and Sam Silvera after the break.
Within three minutes, the Teessiders levelled. Simkin kept out efforts from Hayden Hackney and Morris before Browne smashed in the loose ball from four yards.
Luke Ayling’s tackle on Lawal earned the former Leeds man only a booking from referee Adam Herczeg — not the red card demanded by home fans.
There was further unrest when the visitors completed their comeback. Browne was the provider with a sweet delivery from the right, and although Conway scuffed his first attempt, he recovered quickest to swivel and tap the ball home from inches out.
Simkin prevented the scorer from doubling his tally after 66 minutes to keep Stoke in contention.
Brynn palmed away Sorba Thomas’s 80th-minute free-kick and kept out Cisse’s stoppage-time header to ensure Boro’s win.
Meanwhile, Chelsea and Manchester United will contest the Women’s League Cup final after 1-0 away wins over Manchester City and Arsenal, respectively.
Both sides scored just before half-time: Wieke Kaptein on target as defending champions Chelsea reached a seventh successive decider, while Elisabeth Terland’s effort was the difference for United.
Ireland captain Katie McCabe played the full game for Arsenal.
Additional reporting by Emma Duffy and Press Association
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20th goal Prolific Soccer AZ Ireland Republic Troy Parrott