Welcome to this live blog! Here we will keep you informed of the matches of Telstar, AZ and Ajax in round 29 of the Premier League. There is still a lot at stake for all North Holland teams. You can also read here about other sports news in our region.
6.45 pm: Telstar – FC Groningen (0-1)
7 p.m.: AZ – Fortuna Sittard (2-0)
9 p.m.: Ajax – FC Twente
Regular playing time is over. Telstar still has at least six minutes to get another result out of the fire.
Can Telstar still score the equalizer? Time is now running out.
Just a shot from Patrick Brouwer from about twenty meters. Etienne Vasessen can easily save. On the other hand, the people of Groningen are also becoming dangerous.
Jordy Clasie makes his return to the ranks at AZ after six months. He will immediately be given the captain’s armband. Weslley Patati leaves the field for him.
Troy Parrott also joins the team. Goal scorer Mexx Meerdink is taken to the side.
Brynjólfur Willumsson pins the ball over Ronald Koeman Jr. to. Fortunately for Telstar, the ball is cleared before the line.
AZ will do well there! Lance Duijvestijn puts the 2-1 on the board when he hits from close range. But guess what? The Fortuna Sittard player was offside and the goal was disallowed.
Sem van Duijn can head from close range from a corner kick. His header just goes over. Just before that, Noslin also got a big chance.
On the other hand, FC Groningen is becoming very dangerous. The first chance is missed by Younes Taha and Thom van Bergen’s rebound goes over!
The first chance of the second half came from the Limburgers. Lance Duijvestijn shoots after a high cross, but AZ goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet makes a good save on the goal line.
A hard shot from an FC Groningen player is pushed to the side by goalkeeper Ronald Koeman Jr.
Telstar has not yet been dangerous in the second half.
Everything and everyone is ready for the second half. The same eleven names return to the field at AZ.
One substitution on Telstar’s side. Devon Koswal remains in the locker room and is replaced by Tyrese Noslin.
A minute of injury time was added in Alkmaar. AZ takes the lead 2-0 halfway through Fortuna Sittard. Meerdink and Mijnans’ goals came in the first fifteen minutes. Since then the competition has leveled off somewhat.
Both teams work towards halftime. Lance Duijvestijn scored a shot on behalf of Fortuna, but for goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet it was nothing more than an easy catch.
Telstar heads to the dressing room with a narrow deficit against FC Groningen. It gets plenty of chances, but it is not yet possible to score.
A huge opportunity for Meerdink. The striker cleverly conquers the ball in the opponent’s half, but fails to score his second of the evening.
Telstar still has four minutes in the first half to equalize against FC Groningen.
Soufiane Hetli comes through dangerously on the right. His cross ends up with Jeff Hardeveld. He stands completely free and hits very hard. Goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen can turn things around.
Hardeveld is shocked by an even bigger chance a minute later and mows completely over the ball right in front of the goal…
Dies Janse is able to head towards the goal from a cross. His effort seems to have been turned away on the line by Sem van Duijn, but after VAR intervention, Janse’s header appears to have gone completely over the goal line.
A sour moment for Telstar, which now has to be pursued.
It’s going fast. A shot by Sven Mijnans from outside the box is touched by a Fortuna Sittard defender and flies into the goal: 2-0.
Once again Patati is at the heart of a promising attack. He again brings Jensen into position. This time the Dane is not selfish and he expertly passes the ball to Mexx Meerdink.
The young striker hits the mark: 1-0. Meerdink still has the secret dream of going to the World Cup and then he needs this: goals.
There was a chance to make it 1-0. Patati recaptures the ball in midfield and puts Isak Jensen one-on-one with the keeper. Unfortunately, Jensen cannot keep a cool head.
It puts a lot of pressure on Fortuna’s half in the opening phase. The first goal attempts are still missing.
After a good takeover in midfield, Nökkvi Thorisson receives a deep pass. The Icelandic striker shoots over Groningen’s goal from the edge of the box.
A bit later than initially intended, but the event has now also kicked off in Alkmaar.
Goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen is far from his goal and cannot keep the ball in. Cedric Hatenboer wants to throw quickly, but is hindered by Vaessen. The goalkeeper rightly gets a yellow card.
A low corner comes at the feet of Patrick Brouwer and he is able to lash out. His shot goes high over the goal. Just before that, Nökvvi Thorisson comes through dangerously, but Dies Janse intervenes.
On the other hand, FC Groningen is also threatening. Fortunately for Telstar, David van der Werff’s shot is blocked and so is the rebound.
Can Telstar take the next step towards survival? The ball rolls in Velsen-Zuid.
The kick-off of AZ – Fortuna Sittard has been postponed to 7 p.m. Reason: the supporter buses from Limburg were delayed en route.
