The cup adventure has come to an end for AZ. After a nerve-racking match with extra time, the Alkmaarders lost against FC Utrecht, 1-2. Naoki Maeda scored the winning goal. This means that the eighth finals of the KNVB Cup are the final station for AZ.
There was one change in AZ’s starting eleven against FC Utrecht. Jansen opted for the familiar names at the forefront: Jens Odgaard, Vangelis Pavlidis and Jesper Karlsson. Sven Mijnans – taken over from Sparta Rotterdam last week – was in the starting line-up for the first time. That was at the expense of Myron van Brederode, who started on the bench. The first big chance was also for Mijnans. He received the ball after a cross from Milos Kerkez and shot into the side net in two instances.
The attacking midfielder also had an opportunity after a long shot from Tijjani Reijnders, but that shot went wide. FC Utrecht could do little to counter that. It didn’t get any further than a mop ball from Can Bozdoğan, which goalkeeper Mathew Ryan still had some trouble with. Before the break, AZ still had a few pinpricks, but it was mainly due to itself that it did not take the lead.
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The visitors took the lead out of nowhere – against the balance. Nick Viergever (former player) made it 1-0 with an unintentional cross. Ryan was transfixed. It took until the seventieth minute before AZ got a significant chance. It was Reijnders, who shot the ball full into the corner. Goalie Vasilios Barkas could barely turn the bet.
So it seemed to end in a deception for AZ, until defender Ruben Kluivert floored Odgaard in the penalty area. The penalty was missed by Karlsson, but the Swede scored half a minute later after an assist from Odgaard: 1-1. Jens Toornstra got another huge chance in injury time. He shot the ball past the goal.
Executioner Maeda
Utrecht took the lead again quickly in extra time. Substitute Naoki Maeda ran out of Mijnans’ back and hit hard: 1-2. Kerkez was completely free in the counter-punch with a free kick from Karlsson and worked the ball on the post via Barkas. In the remaining part of the extension, AZ still handed out pinpricks, but without success. As a result, the Alkmaarders have to focus on the competition and the Conference League.
Next Friday AZ will play against Excelsior Rotterdam in the competition. The kick-off is at 8 p.m. and you can follow that match live at NH Sport on NH Radio.
Setup AZ: Ryan; Sugawara, Goes (Lahdo/75), Hatzidiakos, Kerkez (Barasi/110); Reijnders, Clasie, Mijnans (M. De Wit/100); Odgaard, Pavlidis, Karlsson