After getting dropped for the second leg against Ilves, Peer Koopmeiners returned to the starting line-up as he replaced Jordy Clasie, who missed out on the first leg against Vaduz with an injury. Troy Parrott retained his role as AZ's lone striker, giving Mexx Meerdink the role as super sub once more.
Vaduz dealt with Northern Irish outfit Dungannon Swifts in the second round, but manager Marc Schneider changed his side in two places nonetheless: Jonathan De Donno got the nod over Angelo Campos in attack, while Nicolas Hasler got the start at right-back over Mischa Beeli.
Vaduz opened fire first when captain Dominik Schwizer sent a dangerous free-kick just past Jeroen Zoet's post in the 13th minute.
The home side, who started slowly, popped up in Vaduz's and immediately took the lead when Troy Parrott easily tapped in a low cross from right-back Denzo Kasius.
AZ nearly doubled the lead nine minutes after Parrott's opener when the Irishman lobbed the ball over Vaduz stopper Leon Schaffran. Schwizer saved the day, however, by clearing the ball off the line.
Chances for Ro-Zangelo Daal and Denzo Kasius did not put AZ up two before the halfway point, meaning Vaduz were still very much in it.
Striker luxury
The Alkmaar outfit wasted little time creating danger in the second half: Troy Parrott put the ball just wide, after which Sven Mijnans tried to test Schaffran, and Daal hit the post.
The 2-0 looked to have been scored when Marcel Monsberger deflected the ball into his own goal, were it not for the goal being cancelled for offside.
Not long after Angelo Campos nearly got Vaduz back in it, Troy Parrott doubled the lead for AZ with a thunderous effort at Schaffran's near post in the 74th minute.
Meerdink Magic
Mexx Meerdink, who replaced Parrott right after his goal, made an immediate impact when he put a crafty backheel effort just wide of the far post.
The budding superstar stole the show just a couple of minutes later: Meerdink controlled a deep ball from left-back Mees de Wit in pure Dennis Bergkamp fashion and lobbed the ball beautifully over Schaffran, who was pinned to the ground as Meerdink put AZ up 3-0.
The club from Liechtenstein tried to get at least one goal back in the final stages, but were unable to put one past Jeroen Zoet.
AZ take a 3-0 advantage to Liechtenstein next week, when the second leg will be played on Thursday, August 14th, at 19.30 CET.
View all the match statistics on Flashscore.
