AZ has booked a great victory over Lazio in the Conference League. Coach Pascal Jansen’s team turned a backlog and eventually won 2-1 against the Italians. As a result, the Alkmaarders are in the quarterfinals of the third European football tournament.
AZ started the match with a 2-1 lead. Last week, the Alkmaarders won in Rome thanks to goals from Milos Kerkez and Vangelis Pavlidis. In an atmospheric sold-out house in Alkmaar, the supporters saw their club start solid against Italy’s number three. Although Kerkez quickly ran into a yellow card, the left back was often the start of a promising breakout. The home team was in control and set the pace of the game in the first fifteen minutes.
Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri chose to keep a number of strong holders on the bench. Pedro and Luis Alberto were spared. Despite the check, AZ only had one chance in the first twenty minutes. A header from Vangelis Pavlidis went wide of Ivan Provedel’s goal. On the other hand, the ball went in through Felipe Anderson. Lazio’s attacker put the Italians 0-1 in the 22nd minute with a slider in the short corner.
Back rights
The goal against changed little in the game image. The Alkmaarders kept the peace to carefully work on an attack. Jesper Karlsson equalized in the 28th minute. The Swedish wing attacker dribbled in and shot the 1-1 against the ropes with a mop ball. The equalizer gave AZ more confidence, as the team created several chances towards half-time via Sven Mijnans (save keeper), Tijjani Reijnders (just wide), Vangelis Pavlidis (long shot) and Karlsson (blocked shot).
AZ also claimed the lead after the break. Although Mathew Ryan had to save on a long shot from Luca Pellegrini, AZ was very close seven minutes after the break. Tijjani Reijnders rammed a falling ball against the outside of the post. In the 63rd minute, AZ did get the wages for work. After a nice attack, Vangelis Pavlidis finished off nicely with a shot from the edge of the penalty area: 2-1. AZ had the opportunity to close the game. Jens Odgaard fired the ball against the outside of the post
Quarter final
The draw for the quarter-finals of the Conference League is tomorrow at 2 p.m. in Nyon (Switzerland). AZ then knows who the opponent is in the last eight of the third European football tournament.
Setup AZ: Ryan; Sugawara, Goes (Beukema/84), Hatzidiakos, Kerkez; Clasie, Reijnders, Mijnans; Odgaard (Lahdo/84), Pavlidis, Karlsson (Van Brederode/84)