Struggling AZ prevents Quick Boys mega stunt after penalties on crazy cup night in Alkmaar | Dutch football

The club from Katwijk seemed to be heading for a victory for a long time and that was certainly not undeserved. In fact, in both the first and second half, the Alkmaarders were completely trumped by the enthusiastic opponent who, remarkably enough, attacked freely as if the difference in level, salary and transfer value between the two clubs was not enormous. AZ had barely survived the previous round by narrowly beating the amateurs of HHC Hardenberg, but apparently nothing was done with that ‘warning’.

When, after Ogidi Nwanko’s goal, who simply beat Riechedly Bazoer, plastic cups were thrown onto the field by the wildly enthusiastic Quick Boys fans and there was a forced interruption, AZ still recovered. The Alkmaarders suddenly increased the pace and the win seemed to be secured through goals from Dani de Wit and substitute Ernest Poku. A striking header by Leonard de Beste led to extra time, Sem van Duijn’s 3-3 for the penalty shootout and a cup thriller for the history books that seemed to last forever.

Quick Boys was passionately supported by supporters who came to Alkmaar on 36 buses and provided the most noise in the otherwise moderately filled stadium throughout the match. They threw an unprecedented party throughout the match, which seemed to become even bigger after the club’s previous cup stunts against De Graafschap and NAC.

The impending cup collapse could have meant another blow for AZ, which is also in the Premier League and lost to FC Twente last weekend. It was poignant that coach Pascal Jansen’s team hardly created any chances and just as easily gave away countless chances at the back. The central duo of Riechedly Bazoer and Bruno Martins Indi, as well as Denso Kasius and Vangelis Pavlidis, were blamed against the Katwijk amateurs.

Despite the loss, it created a grand Katwijk party in Alkmaar that was comparable to the party that Hercules built in the Galgenwaard after the win over Ajax. Dutch clubs will think twice before underestimating an amateur opponent in advance.