Given the game image, Heracles Almelo had very little to say against AZ, but it remained exciting for the fans present in Alkmaar for a long time. The team of trainer Pascal Jansen refused to close the game with the Almeloërs. Still, the margin of one was enough for the 2-1 victory.
AZ had little to fear for Heracles at home. The team of trainer Frank Wormuth showed up like a tame sheep in Alkmaar and left the initiative entirely to the Alkmaarders. As a logical consequence, Tijjani Reijnders AZ took the lead. The midfielder, who replaced the suspended Fredrik Midtsjø, drove a falling ball from a corner hard against the ropes: 1-0.
Out of nowhere
AZ’s possession rose towards seventy percent, but remarkably enough, that did not provide many opportunities. Out of nowhere, Heracles equalized three minutes before half-time. After a nice play by Bilal Basacikoglu, Michael Laursen headed in hard from a measured cross from the left: 1-1.
Immediately after the break, AZ put things in order. An attack on the right side was countered by Vangelis Pavlidis three minutes after the break. The Greek striker thus signed for his tenth season goal in the Eredivisie.
Jesper Karlsson show
What followed was a big Jesper Karlsson show. The Swede sprinkled with heels, crosses behind the standing leg and saw a volley go just wide. However, AZ did not get any further than a chance for Karlsson and Pavlidis. The home team was unable to decide the game, meaning the game remained tense until the end. However, Heracles was unable to create any more chances. That way AZ was able to pull the 2-1 lead over the line.
AZ remains unbeaten for the seventeenth game in a row due to the victory. The Alkmaarders are now fourth with 45 points. Next Sunday at 12.15 pm the top match against Feyenoord is on the program with the battle for third place as the direct bet.
AZ setup: Vindahl; Sugawara, Hatzidiakos (Beukema/14), Martins Indi, Wijndal; Clasie, Reijnders (Witry/83), De Wit; Evjen (Sowah/83), Pavlidis (Aboukhlal/75), Karlsson