Moussa Traore's last-gasp strike salvaged a point for Standard Liege in the 1-1 draw at DSB Stadion.

The Dutch champions looked set to profit fully from Mounir El Hamdaoui's strike early in the second period of the Group H clash, but the three points were snatched from the grasp of coach Ronald Koeman a minute into stoppage time as Traore pounced.

The final-minute heroics meant Liege avoided a second straight loss following their thrilling 3-2 reverse against Arsenal last time out.

Both sides had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping the scoreline blank in a breathless first half.

AZ's Maarten Martens had the first real opening after 17 minutes, the defender unleashing an effort from the edge of the area which brought a smart parry from Sinan Bolat in the Liege goal.

Five minutes later the Belgian visitors themselves threatened when Axel Witsel struck a long-range shot that brought the best out of Sergio Romero, the AZ keeper at full stretch to tip the ball around the post and to safety.

The busy Witsel carved out another opening two minutes later but this time he fired over from inside the area, while moments later Bolat was back in action at the other end as he tipped over El Hamdaoui's goalbound header from Gill Swerts' cross.

In a half which ebbed and flowed, it was next Liege's turn to get the opposition defence on the back-foot as he unleashed one from distance that rose over the bar, while after 33 minutes David Mendes Da Silva did likewise for AZ.

Moussa Dembele fired wide with another opening for the hosts after 35 minutes while the half ended on a fitting note in stoppage time when Wilfried Dalmat's effort from the edge of the area was clutched confidently by the alert Romero.

The breakthrough arrived just three minutes into the second period as AZ finally unlocked the visitors' stubborn defensive line.

Brett Holman's craft was the key to the opener, his teasing ball from the left landing in the path of El Hamdaoui, who swept the ball home into the bottom-left corner of goal from the edge of the area.

El Hamdaoui might have made it 2-0 when he had another effort four minutes later but this time Bolat made the save.

The one-time Tottenham forward threatened the Liege goal again after 58 minutes, this time rising highest to meet Martens' free-kick but he could not keep his header down.

Liege began to come more into proceedings as the match entered its final quarter and after 68 minutes Mehdi Gonzalez was frustrated to see his left-footed strike tipped round the post by Romero.

The AZ keeper again thwarted the visitors after 73 minutes when he safely held Milan Jovanovic's drilled effort, while 60 seconds later Bolat was called back into action, this time making a stop from Holman's free-kick.

The points appeared certain to stay in Alkmaar as the clock ticked down without Liege threatening, but a minute into added time AZ's defences were finally breached when the ball broke loose to substitute Traore inside the area, and the striker made no mistake as he lashed home high into the net to rescue a point.