Crystal Palace-AZ was the story of the men against the boys. Compared to the ‘cabinets’ of the home club, the AZ players looked more like ball boys. They were simply blown away. AZ now finds itself in 26th place in the basement of the rankings, below the red line. The goal difference also does not work in Alkmaar’s favor: 2-7.
After two defeats and one win, a European wintering for AZ is anything but guaranteed. Martens’ team can hardly afford to make a mistake in the remainder of the group stage of the Conference League, in which the Irish Shelbourne FC, the Kosovars KF Drita and the Polish Jagiellonia Bialystok are the opponents.
Maxence Lacroix (L) tries to keep Sven Mijnans off the ball. © ANP/ HH
AZ lost all ten matches played on English soil
AZ knew they were in for a hell of a job in South London. All ten previous matches on English soil were lost, including the two matches last season against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. The first was a Europa League group match, the second was the return from the round of 16.
Crystal Palace is not one of the most famous clubs in the English capital, it pulled off a gigantic stunt at Wembley on May 17 by beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final. It also defeated Liverpool on penalties in the battle for the Community Shield. Two top prizes in three months, the London ‘Eagles’ are experiencing a heyday.
Conflict of interest thwarted Palace’s participation in the Europa League
Curiously, Palace were not allowed to participate in the Europa League, normally the stage for cup winners. It works like this: American co-owner John Textor also has interests in Olympique Lyon, which coincidentally also won a Europa League ticket.
And allowing two clubs with one and the same (co-)owner to play in one European competition is not permitted by UEFA. The French were given priority because they have a higher European ranking, which meant that the current number 9 of the Premier League was ‘reverted’ to the third European club level. The difference in level with AZ was noticeable.
Young and third right back Elijah Dijkstra in the AZ base
Unlike what AZ experienced in previous matches against English clubs, Crystal Palace coach Oliver Glasner took the match against the North Hollanders very seriously. His team had only one change compared to the team that defeated Brentford City (2-0) in a London derby on Saturday. At AZ, third right back Elijah Dijkstra was in the starting line-up in the absence of Denso Kasius and Seiya Maikuma, while Mexican left back Mateo Chavez was surprisingly preferred to Mees de Wit.
AZ initially went to war fearlessly and was the first to shoot between the posts via Kees Smit, but the shot lacked power. Palace often left the ball to AZ and, given the reputation of the British, the guests had to handle possession carefully. European debutant Palace counters willingly and patiently and is extremely dangerous in transition.
Lacroix opens the score for Palace in bombardment
But the ‘Eagles’ also looked for set pieces. The first free kick created immediate danger: Senegalese Ismaila Sarr chested the ball headed back by Chris Richards to his right and fired hard at the left post. It was the starting signal for a London bombing raid. Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro allowed himself to be played childishly by Sarr on the back line and committed a foul: a penalty. The AZ goalkeeper remained cool and made up for his mistake by saving Jean-Philippe’s penalty.
Owusu-Oduro then stylishly dived Sarr’s header out of his goal and was lucky that a flutter ball from Will Hughes ended up on the crossbar. But halfway through the first half, the Alkmaar goalie had no chance against a shot from Maxence Lacroix. It was initially disallowed for offside, but VAR reversed the incorrect decision after lengthy deliberation: 1-0.
The AZ players lack ‘body’
As the first half progressed, it became clear that the AZ players, on average five years younger, had much less body than those of Palace. Everything that flew through the air was prey for the home team. In short: it had to be done on the ground. Just before half-time there was a hard and well-aimed shot from Sven Mijnans, which Palace goalie Dean Henderson struggled to clear.
In injury time of the first half, the English were given a free kick and the recipe was there crystal clear: the ball was passed past the far post to Richards who headed it into the goalmouth. There too the difference in length was significant and Sarr thoughtfully scored: 2-0.
Sven Mijnans quickly brings back the tension after tea
A good cup of English tea gave the citizens of Alkmaar courage. Kees Smit almost curled the ball into the far corner and after 55 minutes it was suddenly a game again: Mijnans shot the 2-1 into the ropes via a London leg and the crown of Henderson. The goal was a reward for Mijnans’ excellent form. But when coach Martens sat down, Mateta was much more aggressive in chasing the ball and wonderfully released Sarr for Owusu-Oduro: 3-1.
In other words damage control á la Crystal Palace. The damage was repaired within two minutes. Martens had seen enough and, with a view to Sunday’s top match against PSV, he brought in winger Wessley Patati, top scorer Troy Parrott and midfielders Peer Koopmeiners and Kees Smit. After all, there was no more honor to be won for AZ, which brought in a European debutant in Texel-born Kasper Boogaard.