AZ has reached the semi-finals of the Conference League. The Alkmaarders already made up for a 2-0 deficit before the break thanks to goals from Vangelis Pavlidis. In the end, penalties had to be the deciding factor against Anderlecht. Mexx Meerdink shot in the decisive penalty and goalkeeper Mathew Ryan took two penalties.
AZ knew in advance that it had to score at least two goals after last week’s debacle in Brussels. In a sold-out house, trainer Pascal Jansen sent exactly the same names as last week and on Sunday against Fortuna Sittard (0-3 win). The Alkmaarders started the game stormy and immediately wanted to set the tone.
After four minutes, Milos Kerkez was stabbed away by Myron van Brederode, the replacement for the injured Jesper Karlsson, and knocked down on the edge of the box. The referee could do nothing but put the ball on the spot. Vangelis Pavlidis then shot flawlessly: 1-0.
comeback
AZ held Anderlecht, number nine in Belgium, in a hold and did not let go. Tijjani Reijnders sent Jens Odgaard away just in time. The winger then finished nicely on Pavlidis, who simply tapped in the 2-0. For example, AZ already reversed the damage suffered within fifteen minutes and even got the chance for more via Sven Mijnans, Reijnders, Pavlidis and Odgaard.
Pavlidis was left injured in the dressing room halfway through. Mayckel Lahdo replaced him, allowing Odgaard to play in the front of the attack. Even after the break, the Alkmaarders eagerly went in search of the goals, but Anderlecht chose to park the bus. AZ was close to 3-0 via Odgaard, as the Dane headed just over Bart Verbruggen’s goal, Anderlecht’s goalkeeper. In the final phase, Kerkez finally seemed to deal the death blow, but his bet ended up against the post.
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Extension
In extra time, Anderlecht came out of its shell a bit more. Coach Brian Riemer’s team tried to strike on the counter, but AZ kept things closed. After a hundred minutes of football, the left side of AZ was tired and Mees de Wit and Mexx Meerdink came in for Kerkez and Van Brederode.
Odgaard was sent off in the second half of extra time and shot in, but was immediately flagged for offside. Anderlecht midfielder Anders Dreyer still tested Mathew Ryan with a free kick from a great distance, but AZ had the greater possibilities. The penalty kicks ultimately had to bring the decision. Jordy Clasie, Yukinari Sugawara, Reijnders and Meerdink all scored for AZ.
Setup AZ: Ryan; Sugawara, Hatzidiakos, Beukema, Kerkez (M. De Wit/99); Clasie, Mijnans (Bazoer/112), Reijnders; Odgaard (Mihailovic/112), Pavlidis (Lahdo/46), Van Brederode (Meerdink/99)