In this live blog we will keep you informed all day long about the match of AZ against West Ham United at 9 p.m. tonight. Our reporter Stephan Brandhorst is in London, speaks to the AZ fans and of course the players tonight.
The second half has started against West Ham United.
AZ is ahead after the first half thanks to a goal from Tijjani Reijnders.
Lucas Paqueta forces Mathew Ryan into a save. Ball goes through his fingertips next to the goal.
The first European semi-final since 2005 is on its way for AZ.
The Alkmaarders played a total of six times in history on English soil. However, those duels do not give much confidence for tonight. All matches were lost.
1978Ipswich Town – AZ 2-0
1981Ipswich Town – AZ 3-0
1981Liverpool-AZ 3-2
2007Newcastle United – AZ 4-2
2009Arsenal – AZ 4-1
2019Manchester United – AZ 4-0
AZ and West Ham have never played a match against each other before. The English team only played against two Dutch teams. In 1976 the team came into action against FC Den Haag. That diptych was decided on the basis of away goals (5-5), so that West Ham reached the semi-finals of the European Cup II.
Of the current AZ selection players, goalkeeper Mathew Ryan and Jordy Clasie have played against West Ham before. Both are still undefeated against the team from London. Ryan played against the Hammers five times (three wins and two draws), while Clasie won his own game.
AZ won the play-offs for the second qualifying round last year and as a result, the European season started in July against the Bosnian Tuzla City. This started the season fantastic for the Alkmaarders, view the other results below:
Second qualifying round
AZ – Tuzla City 1-0
Tuzla City – AZ 0-4
Third qualifying round
Dundee United – AZ 1-0
AZ – Dundee United 7-0
Play-off round
AZ – Gil Vicente FC 4-0
Gil Vicente – AZ 1-2
Group stage
Dnipro-1 – AZ 0-1
AZ – FC Vaduz 4-1
AZ – Apollon Limassol 3-2
Apollon Limassol – AZ 1-0
FC Vaduz – AZ 1-2
AZ – Dnipro-1 2-1
Eighth final
SS Lazio – AZ 1-2
AZ – SS Lazio 2-1
Quarter final
RSC Anderlecht – AZ 0-2
AZ – RSC Anderlecht 2-0 4-1 after penalties
From 3pm UK time, AZ fans will gather at The People’s Park Tavern in Victoria Park. There is room for all traveling supporters. The corteo will take place at 6:00 PM. Then everyone will walk from the Tavern to the London Stadium with torches and decorative fireworks. After about 25 minutes of walking, everyone goes to the away section and the match starts at 20:00 (UK time).