AZ convincingly won the North Holland derby against FC Volendam. The Alkmaarders did not have any problems and were too strong with 3-0. The score could have been much higher for AZ, but the post got in the way twice and a goal was disallowed.
At AZ, Tiago Dantas was given a starting position in midfield, replacing Dani de Wit, who took a seat on the bench. Ernest Poku filled the position as right winger, which meant that Ibrahim Sadiq had been transferred back to the bench. At Volendam, Garang Kuol, Calvin Twigt, Benaissa Benamar and Oskar Buur returned to the starting line-up after the cup failure against Excelsior Maassluis (1-0 loss).
Lightning start
The Alkmaarders quickly wanted to make short work of Volendam, which had no choice but to run after the ball. After just five minutes the home team had the crowd on the benches. Ruben van Bommel struck hard from outside the box and saw his ball fly into the cross: 1-0.
Shortly afterwards, Ernest Poku was even able to double the score, but he shot over while standing right in front of the keeper. Within ten minutes, AZ should have scored three times, because Sven Mijnans also missed an opportunity.
Coach Matthias Kohler’s team was lucky that it was still in the match. Yet after ten minutes they suddenly had some chances from an action by Oskar Buur and a dangerous corner kick.
Yet the game mainly took place in half of Volendam. Mio Backhaus’ goal was shot at several times, but surprisingly enough it was only Van Bommel’s one goal. He thought he had tapped in his second after half an hour, but Ernest Poku was offside moments before.
Only just before half time did Volendam get around to playing football. Robert Mühren still had a chance, but failed to fire on AZ’s goal. Just before half time, Sven Mijnans injured the inside of his knee. In injury time, Pavlidis hit the post from a cross from the right, but it remained the minimal lead for AZ.
Rain of opportunity
The second goal came for AZ immediately after the break. David Moller Wolfe had entered the penalty area and passed the ball hard and low against the leg of Pavlidis, who made it 2-0 and with it his fourteenth goal of the season.
FC Volendam became dangerous a little later. Damon Mirani took a ball out of the air on his slipper, but saw Ryan catlikely box the ball away. On the other hand, AZ made it 3-0 in the 58th minute. Backhaus saved on a free kick from Yukinari Sugawara, after which Van Bommel shot against the post and Bruno Martins Indi suddenly got the ball at his feet and tapped it in.
The only thing Volendam could do was limit the damage, because it itself had very little to say. It also gave AZ coach Jansen the opportunity to make three substitutions and allow Jayden Addai to make his debut in the main squad of the Alkmaarders. The score for AZ could have been even higher, as Pavlidis hit the post for the second time in the match.
Next Thursday, AZ will play at home against Zrinjski Mostar in the Conference League. The kick-off in Alkmaar will be at 6.45 pm. In the competition they will visit FC Utrecht next Sunday. FC Volendam will take on PEC Zwolle on Saturday.
AZ setup: Ryan; Sugawara (Kasius/69), Bazoer, Martins Indi (Penetra/69), Moller Wolfe; Clasie, Mijnans (Mihailovic/45), Dantas; Poku (Addai/69), Pavlidis, Van Bommel
FC Volendam line-up: Backhaus; Neighbor (Plat/67), Benamar, Flint, Cox; Mirani (Maulun/80), De Haan, Twigt; Ould-Chikh, Mühren (Zeefuik/59), Kuol (Booth/67)