For the second consecutive time, AZ has lost in the Eredivisie against a team from Rotterdam. After Feyenoord was 3-1 too strong last week, the team of trainer Pascal Jansen made an ugly slip against Excelsior this afternoon. The number thirteen in the ranking defeated AZ 2-1.
Early in the game, Excelsior boldly took the lead. A free kick by Marouan Azarkan was nodded in the far corner by Siebe Horemans. It was close to AZ coming alongside in the 10th minute. Dani de Wit shot the ball from just outside the penalty area against the top of the bar.
The Alkmaarders then became dangerous with a shot by Pantelis Hatzidiaksos (in front) and a free kick by Jesper Karlsson that sailed wide. The home team saw Lazaros Lamprou shoot just wide in a promising position. In the 32nd minute it was hit. Azarkan appeared free for keeper Hobie Verhulst and finished in a controlled manner: 2-0
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Double change
In the 38th minute Jansen had seen enough and a double substitution followed. The passed Yukinari Sugwara came in for Maxim Dekker, while Myron van Brederode made way for Yusuf Barasi. Remarkably, both substitutes entered the field without having done a warm-up. Their input did not change the game before half time.
After three minutes in the second half, AZ was successful. Tijjani Reijnders pulled the ball from the back line and the detached Sugawara was able to easily score the 2-1.
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After an hour of play, Dani de Wit was unlucky for the second time in this game when his header hit the post from close range. AZ started, got a number of good opportunities, but Excelsior stayed upright with the necessary art and flying work. Goalkeeper Stijn van Gassel made a sublime save in injury time on a bet by Mayckel Lahdo.
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AZ remains in fourth place in the Eredivisie after the loss at Excelsior and sees the difference with leader Ajax increase to five points. Including the Conference League match against Apollon Limassol, AZ has lost all of its last three matches. The Alkmaarders will play against FC Vaduz in Liechtenstein on Thursday.
AZ setup: concealed; Hatzidiakos, Beukema, Dekker (Sugawara/38), Kerkez; Reijnders, D. de Wit (Bazoer/74), Clasie: Karlsson (Lahdo/82), Odgaard and Van Brederode (Barasi/38)
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