The 22-year-old former Chivas academy defender netted a clinical left-footed strike in his return to the starting XI, capping off a debut season highlighted by a Dutch Cup title.
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Mexican defender Mateo Chávez enjoyed an unforgettable conclusion to his debut season in European football. After spending the previous two matches on the bench, the left-back returned to the starting lineup for AZ Alkmaar and scored his first goal in a 3-3 draw against NAC Breda on Matchday 34, the final fixture of the 2025-26 Eredivisie season.
The match at the AFAS Stadion began beautifully for Leeroy Echteld’s squad. Sven Mijnans opened the scoring early in the 7th (or 8th) minute. Just four minutes later, in the 11th (or 12th) minute, Mijnans provided a brilliant filtered pass into the box for Chávez; the Guadalajara academy graduate controlled the ball and unleashed a powerful cross-shot with his left foot past goalkeeper Daniel Bielica to secure a provisional 2-0 lead. The young fullback played 57 minutes before being substituted.
Despite the early cushion, the home side struggled defensively in the second half following the Mexican's departure. NAC Breda’s offense sparked into life courtesy of Moussa Soumano, who bagged a quick brace in the 60th and 70th minutes to level the score. In the dying moments, the visitors momentarily completed the comeback when Juho Talvitie found the net in the 88th minute. However, in the 89th (or 90th) minute, striker Mexx Meerdink rescued the definitive 3-3 draw for the red-and-white presentation.
With this result, AZ Alkmaar finished the season in seventh place with 52 points (14 wins, 10 draws, and 10 losses), missing out on a chance to climb to sixth. Nonetheless, the club successfully secured a direct spot in the next edition of the UEFA Europa League group stage after winning the Dutch Cup weeks ago against NEC Nijmegen. Chávez started the first three rounds of that tournament before a shoulder injury sidelined him for the semifinals and final.
Individually, the tapatío concluded his adaptation campaign with between 20 and 32 appearances across all competitions (depending on local media counts), contributing one goal and two assists. Chávez will now report to the Mexican National Team under Javier Aguirre, having been named in the 55-player preliminary squad for the 2026 World Cup, looking to secure his spot after missing the March friendlies against Portugal and Belgium due to his injury recovery.
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