AZ has drawn the second practice match of the preparation. After a disastrous start, Alkmaarders drew a 2-2 draw against the Greek PAOK Saloniki. Within fifteen minutes, the team of trainer Pascal Jansen had to deal with two goals against.
The game was initially supposed to be played with an audience, but yesterday the club announced that the game would not be played behind closed doors would be played. A shortage of police capacity meant that fans were not welcome. The handful of guests saw AZ get off to a bad start. Andrija Zivkovic and Kargas Ioannis managed to outwit goalkeeper Peter Vindahl twice within fifteen minutes.
AZ started with the two Greeks in the base. Vangelis Pavlidis, who also managed to find the net against PEC Zwolle, equalized in the 27th minute. With that he brought AZ back into the game. In the second half, Jansen sent eleven new names onto the field. Iman Griffith was already close to the equalizer after the break, but halfway through the second half he put the 2-2 on the scoreboard on a pass from Mayckel Lahdo.
AZ will leave for Greece on Friday where it will practice against Olympiakos Piraeus on Saturday
Line-up AZ first half: Vindahl, F. de Jong, Hatzidiakos, Dekker, Kerkez, Koopmeiners, Buurmeester, D. De Wit, Evjen, Pavlidis, Van Brederode.
Line-up AZ second half: Verhulst, Witry, Beukema, Schouten, M. de Wit, Midtsjø, Reijnders, Griffith, Lahdo, Duin, Barasi..