Dutch club AZ (based in Alkmaar, Netherlands) were eliminated from the UEFA Conference League quarterfinals on Thursday after drawing 2-2 at home with Shakhtar Donetsk, having lost the first leg 3-0 in Poland. Coach Leeroy Echteld deliberately fielded a heavily rotated side, resting key players ahead of Sunday's Dutch Cup final against NEC, a decision that drew sharp criticism given the Netherlands' already poor European coefficient standings this season. AZ briefly led 2-1 on the night but could not complete the comeback, and with all other Dutch clubs also eliminated, the Netherlands recorded a new negative record of 34 European defeats in a single season.