Birighitti was hardly culpable for AZ's first two goals inside the opening half hour but he was caught out horribly for the third scored by Myron Boadu on 42 minutes.

The 27-year-old shot-stopper dwelled too long on the ball metres from goal after receiving a pass from defender Menno Koch, allowing Boadu to slide in and swoop to make it 3-0.

Birighitti was handed a start with NAC number one Arijanet Muric, who is on loan from Manchester City, out injured.

NAC captain Koch refused to place the blame on Birighitti, when he said: "We do not lose the match there, we have failed as a team, not just one player."

Birighitti actually made a number of good saves on a day where AZ dominated.