AZ took a well-deserved lead in the 32nd minute when left-back Mees de Wit scored from close range following a skillful run to the byline by left winger Ro-Zangelo Daal.
NEC responded with a goal in the 78th minute, courtesy of Japanese striker Koki Ogawa.
Mijnans thought he had scored again five minutes before the end, but his effort was disallowed for offside during the build-up. However, right at the start of stoppage time, newly capped Dutch international Kees Smit chipped NEC goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen to make it 4-1.
There was still time for one more goal, scored by Ireland international Troy Parrott five minutes into stoppage time, as his close-range shot took a sharp deflection.
This victory marked AZ’s fifth Dutch Cup final win and their first in 13 years, while NEC has now lost all six finals, they have participated in.
Winning the cup secures AZ a place in the group stage of next season’s Europa League. They were eliminated last Thursday in the Conference League quarter-finals by Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk.
