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Troy Parrott on the charge. Alamy Stock Photo
Czeching In
Troy Parrott scores in Prague one week out from World Cup play-off
The Irish striker also added an assist in AZ Alkmaar’s Uefa Conference League win.
Sparta Prague 0
AZ Alkmaar 4
AZ win 6-1 on aggregate
TROY PARROTT SCORED against Czech opposition in Prague, as he helped AZ Alkmaar into the Conference League quarter-finals ahead of Ireland’s World Cup play-off next week.
The Irish striker turned home just before the hour mark in a 4-0 second-leg win against Sparta Prague at epet Arena to continue his excellent form.
Troy Parrott scores against Czech opposition ahead of next week's massive game 🦜
— Premier Sports Ireland (@PremSportsIRL) March 19, 2026
The Irishman strikes from close range to put AZ Alkmaar 4-1 up on aggregate 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/j2cBeyKEjz
Parrott added an unselfish assist as AZ made it 4-0 in the 73rd minute, before making way for Mexx Meerdink three minutes later.
With the job all but complete, the Dutch side saw it out to win 6-1 on aggregate and set-up a quarter-final clash with Shakhtar Donetsk.
That's filthy from Troy Parrott 😮💨
— Premier Sports Ireland (@PremSportsIRL) March 19, 2026
An incredible touch from the Irishman before providing Ro-Zangelo Daal with a simple finish 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/tUtmC11heF
Parrott has now scored 27 goals in all competitions at club level this season, having bagged a brace in AZ’s 2-1 first-leg win last Thursday. He scored and provided two assists in a 4-0 Eredivisie victory over Heracles on Sunday.
The Dubliner goes into next Thursday’s World Cup play-off semi-final against Czechia in Prague, with five goals in his last two international games against Portugal and Hungary.
******
AEK Larnaca 1
Crystal Palace 2
Crystal Palace win 2-1 on aggregate
ISMAILA SARR BOOKED Crystal Palace a Conference League quarter-final meeting with Fiorentina with the extra-time winner in their 2-1 victory at nine-man AEK Larnaca to settle the tie by the same score on aggregate.
The Senegal international also opened the scoring in the 13th minute at the home of the second-placed Cypriot First Division side, where the visitors emerged with more attacking intent than last week’s lacklustre Selhurst Park draw.
Enric Saborit powered home a header to draw the sides level in the 63rd minute, then made things much harder for his team-mates when he was sent off for tugging Sarr down 10 minutes later.
Sarr finally broke the deadlock from a Palace corner in the ninth minute of the first period of added time, and came within inches of a hat-trick when he clipped the crossbar twice before the final whistle.
The hosts played out the closing minutes with nine men after Petros Ioannou was dismissed for a dangerous challenge on second-half substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta, who appeared alongside January club record signing Jorgen Strand Larsen for the first time
Written by Press Association and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.
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