AZ Under-18 has qualified for the final of the Youth League. In the semi-finals, AZ drew 2-2 against Sporting CP, but AZ’s talents also won after a penalty shootout.
Sports editorial
Latest update:
4:25 pm
On Thursday evening, the big AZ already qualified for the semi-final of the Conference League against Anderlecht after penalties and that also brought the decision at AZ Under-18. After an early deficit, Ernest Poku and Ro-Zangelo Daal turned things around. Especially the curl ball through the inside of the post of Daal was particularly beautiful.
After the break, Sporting leveled again and due to a red card from Finn Stam, who was sent off after 95 minutes because he accidentally kicked a Sporting player when he wanted to clear the ball, AZ also ended up with ten men .
Nevertheless, AZ managed to hold on to the 2-2 until the end of extra time. AZ missed one penalty kick, but Sporting missed two, allowing Jayden Addai to use the decisive pin. On Monday, AZ will face Hajduk Split from Croatia or Italy’s AC Milan in the final. It is the first time that a Dutch club is in the final of the prestigious club tournament for youth players.
Last year, the Youth League was won by Benfica and since the first edition in the 2013-2014 season, the tournament has been won by the talents of European superpowers. Chelsea, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and FC Porto, among others, went on to win the tournament. The smaller Red Bull Salzburg took the prize in 2017.
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