Fifth place is the highest achievable for AZ after a late draw against FC Utrecht

AZ can officially focus on the play-offs for European football. The Alkmaarders received a goal from Anastasios Douvikas in the 94th minute, so that FC Twente can no longer be traced in fourth place: 2-2.

After a strong start for the Domstedelingen in which Simon Gustafson got a big chance, AZ took the lead. A hard long shot from Pantelis Hatzidiakos was blocked, after which Jesper Karlsson was able to take over. The Swede gave up to Vangelis Pavlidis who made the 0-1. FC Utrecht could not recover from this goal for a long time, because 4 minutes later it was already 2-0.

Karlsson gave the lead again and again Pavlidis was the final destination. The Alkmaarders then had a difficult time again and the home team got opportunities through Sander van der Streek and Quinten Timber. In the end Van der Streek scored the connecting goal after a diagonal powder: 1-2.

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Long strike

It took a while for the game to get going in the second half. This gave Hidde ter Avest a great chance to head the ball. Peter Vindahl was able to turn the ball catlike, leaving AZ alive. The Alkmaarders seemed to return home with three points, until the game was stopped in the 88th minute. Referee Jochem Kampuis sent both teams in after repeatedly throwing objects onto the field. After this, the game was stopped for ten minutes.

Henk Veerman still had a great chance in injury time, but in the end it was Anastasios Douvikas who plunged AZ into deep mourning. In the 94th minute he still equalized, making fourth place unattainable.

AZ . setup: Vindahl; Sugawara, Hatzidiakos, Martins Indi, Wijndal; Midtsjø, De Wit, Reijnders (Witry/66); Evjen (Aboukhlal/80), Pavlidis, Karlsson (Beukema/80)

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