AZ took three very nice points against PSV tonight. After an early deficit, Pascal Jansen’s team turned the game into a 2-1 victory. The Alkmaarders needed help from goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo, who made a flashy mistake in the winning goal.
The opening phase was for PSV. It was therefore no surprise that the scoreboard was 1-0 after nineteen minutes. A tight corner from Cody Gakpo was headed in hard by central defender Armando Obispo. AZ could only counter that with a shot from Jesper Karlsson.
Deserved equalizer
Despite the deficit, AZ played better football after the goal against. Vangelis Pavlidis had a good opportunity, but he aimed wide. The good phase of the Alkmaarders was rewarded five minutes before half time. After a corner variant, Owen Wijndal got the ball. He reached the back line and saw three teammates standing free. Bruno Martins Indi was one of them and he easily shot the ball into the goal: 1-1. The central defender graced his return after a toe injury with a goal.
Ibrahim Sangaré should have put PSV ahead again just before the tea. He had a cracked cross suddenly before tapping the far post. The Ivorian didn’t seem to count on it and the ball went wide. The first good chance after the break was for AZ. Pavlidis broke through in the axis of the field, but his shot from a promising position went wide.
Good saves vs. blunder
AZ goalkeeper Peter Vindahl kept the Alkmaarders going after more than an hour with two strong saves. First, the Dane saved Mauro Júnior’s shot and in the rebound he was attentive to Yorbe Vertessen’s effort from close range. Fortunately for AZ, PSV keeper Yvon Mvogo was not at his post. He was surprised in the 75th minute by a bouncing ball, after which Karlsson shot the ball into the empty goal.
Because of this victory, AZ is now unbeaten ten league games in a row. No club has been able to do that this season. It is also the third win in a row for AZ at PSV. In the ranking, the North Hollanders are in fourth place for at least an hour. Competitor FC Twente kicked off against Vitesse at 9 p.m. It is also a favorable result for Ajax, because the leader can extend to a five-point lead over PSV tomorrow if it beats Heracles Almelo.
AZ setup: Vindahl; Sugawara, Hatzidiakos, Martins Indi (Beukema/75), Wijndal; Clasie (Reijnders/82), De Wit, Midtsjø; Evjen, Pavlidis (Aboukhlal/67), Karlsson