Mak AZ only gets up to speed after red card against fairytale team FC Vaduz

AZ failed to impose its will on FC Vaduz in the opening phase. The giant killer from Liechtenstein, who eliminated Koper, Konyaspor and Rapid Wien in the preliminary rounds, held up fairly easily.

Trainer Pascal Jansen changed his team in four places compared to the match against FC Twente (1-1). The coach was replaced by Yukinari Sugawara, Mees de Wit and Yusuf Barasi. Bruno Martins Indi also returned after a short injury.

Barasi crowns basic debut

For the first time a starting place was reserved for Yusuf Barasi. The 19-year-old striker topped off his basic debut with a goal. He saw his bet come in through the body of an opponent: 1-0.

AZ was able to enjoy the lead for only three minutes: Anthony Goelzer, who had emerged on the left, was released, after which he scored the equalizer impeccably.

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AZ seemed taken aback after the equalizer, so that Vaduz was temporarily the dominant party. Towards the break, Van Brederode hit another ball wide and Tijjani Reijnders tapped a marker against the outgoing Benjamin Büchel.

Red-faced goalkeeper

The defense had Vaduz in order and AZ could count itself lucky that Franklin Sasere was not sharp and timed wrong with a header. Fifteen minutes after the break, AZ was completely helped by Vaduz keeper Büchel. He kicked the broken Jens Odgaard down outside the box and had to go off the field with a red card. Reijnders shot the keeper from the ensuing free kick and in the rebound Barasi headed the ball against the crossbar.

dead point

The red card seemed to be Vaduz’s neck shot, because after that AZ had a lot of preponderance. We had to wait for the lead and it came in the 81st minute. Substitute Milos Kerkez prepared a cross for Sam Beukema who headed in the 2-1. Vaduz’s final offensive was not sickening and led to memorable moments via Sasere and substitute Ryan Fosso. Yukinari Sugawara and Dani de Wit helped AZ to victory with their goals just before time.

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AZ will play in the league again on Sunday. The Alkmaarders will then receive a visit from leader Ajax that lost 2-1 to Liverpool in the Champions League earlier this week. AZ – Ajax starts on Sunday at 4.45 pm and can be followed live during the radio broadcast of NH Sport.

AZ . setup: Concealed; Sugawara, Beukema, Martins Indi (Dekker/66), M. De Wit (Kerkez/79); Clasie (Koopmeiners/66), Reijnders, D. De Wit; Odgaard, Barasi (Lahdo/66), Van Brederode (Bazoer/79)