Impressive revival helps AZ to a resounding victory and lead

After the cup elimination, AZ had to wash away the sour aftertaste against Excelsior. It did that again with a badly battered team, because again it lacked a cartload of players. That meant that Wouter Goes and winter acquisition Sven Mijnans started again in the base with the Alkmaarders.

After two draws in the Eredivisie (against Utrecht and FC Volendam), AZ went looking for their first victory in three league matches. After fifteen minutes, Jesper Karlsson put the ball wide on striker Vangelis Pavlidis, but the pass was inaccurate.

Rain of goals

The Alkmaarders took the lead in the 19th minute. Karlsson sent Mijnans off and the acquisition passed his opponent and saw his shot hit the goal via an opponent: 1-0. Despite the fact that AZ was not yet convinced in the opening phase, it suddenly rained goals in Alkmaar. Karlsson completed the home team brilliantly to 2-0. The Swede received the ball from the side and shot in flawlessly.

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Two minutes later, Mijnans tapped in his second of the evening. After goalkeeper Stijn van Gassel formed an obstacle twice, the midfielder was accurate: 3-0.

Excelsior was now becoming cannon fodder for the team of trainer Pascal Jansen. The train of the Alkmaarders rumbled on, because goals from Jens Odgaard and Vangelis Pavlidis gave a comfortable 5-0 lead on the scoreboard at halftime.

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Foot off the gas

After the break, the foot went slightly off the accelerator. The Alkmaarders were less emphatically looking to turn it into a real goal fest. Vangelis Pavlidis and Pantelis Hatzidiakos were still close. The Greek striker saw his ball being bounced by his compatriot, after which the ball hit the post.

Thanks to the resounding victory, AZ is back at the top of the Eredivisie. The Alkmaarders climb over Feyenoord, which will visit sc Heerenveen on Sunday. Next Saturday at 9 p.m., AZ will visit De Kuip.

Setup AZ: Ryan; Sugawara (De Jong/78), Hatzidiakos, Goes, Kerkez (M. De Wit/68); Clasie (Buurmeester/78), Reijnders, Mijnans; Odgaard, Pavlidis, Karlsson (Van Brederode/78)