The game was on the road for a good one and a half minutes, when Alexandre Penetra had to get in. The central defender was full of the heel of his opponent and had to get in. So it became a competition of survival for the Alkmaarders and that happened with art and flying, when Larnaca hit the bar twice in a few seconds halfway through the first half. A little later the inevitable 1-0 fell. Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro first spent a header on a header, but Waldo Rubio scored in the rebound.
Graduation Aek Larnaca
AZ could not make a fist with ten men. There was a chance after the break for Mexx Meerdink. A few minutes later, the 2-0 fell on the other side through a header from Riad Bajic. Strangely enough, AZ then experienced its best phase, as if some fear fell from the shoulders. However, a comeback was not possible. Larnaca ran even further away through the newly substitute Ivanovic and Marcus Rhoden. AZ already played with nine men at that last goal. Maarten Martens was no longer allowed to change, while Weslley Patati was injured.
For example, AZ, just like Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord, FC Utrecht and Go Ahead Eagles, begins the European competition phase in recent weeks with a defeat.
Peer Koopmeiners
“This is coming hard,” Peer Koopmeiners said Ziggo Sport After the first game of AZ in the main tournament of the Conference League.
Koopmeers had to take in the place of Penetra after the fast red card. Even after the 1-0 for the home team, he still saw opportunities. “You are still in the competition, then we have to be good enough to give something back. But we gave too many opportunities away,” he looked back. “That red card was a key moment. It was not enough we showed afterwards. The tank was empty too quickly.”