AZ managed to beat Vitesse at home tonight. The game between the numbers five and six of the Eredivisie ended in 3-1. Due to the victory and the draw at FC Twente – PSV, the Alkmaarders are back in fourth place.
It was a match with two faces in Alkmaar. Little happened in the first half, while things got a lot more lively after the break. Halfway through, AZ did have the lead. Jesper Karlsson could barely keep the ball in at the back line and found Vangelis Pavlidis. The Greek striker turned freely and scored through the leg of Vitesse defender Danilho Doekhi.
Second half more attractive
AZ seemed to decide the game prematurely in the 56th minute. Karlsson served the risen Owen Wijndal, who had a hard cross in the house. Thanks to the pressure from Pavildis, Jacob Rasmussen worked the ball into his own goal: 2-0.
That turned out to be the signal for the Arnhemmers to also attack. And it didn’t take long to score. Sondre Tronstad got the ball at his feet from a corner. He scored through AZ keeper Peter Vindahl. Vitesse then kept pressure on AZ without becoming very dangerous.
Decision by penalty
Pascal Jansen’s team had little time to attack, but it still became 3-1. Pavlidis was knocked down by Riechedly Bazoer in the penalty area, after which Karlsson was allowed to build from eleven meters. He outwitted goalkeeper Jeroen Houwen with a hard shot. In stoppage time, Loïs Openda hit the post and Vindahl had to stretch on a shot by Bazoer.
AZ setup: Vindahl; Witry (Aboukhlal/80), Beukema, Martins Indi, Wijndal; Midtsjø (Reijnders/70), De Wit, Clasie; Sugawara, Pavlidis (Hatzidiakos/85), Karlsson
