Young AZ failed to give Maarten Martens a worthy farewell. The trainer will stop after this season and was last responsible against ADO Den Haag. The opponent won 0-2 thanks to goals from Thomas Verheydt and Joël Zwarts.
During the last match of Maarten Martens as trainer of Jong AZ, the Belgian saw that the Hagenezen were a lot stronger. That was the first chance for ADO Den Haag. Martens was happily released after Thomas Verheydt’s header went just wide. Boy Kemper had a free header opportunity moments later.
His header was beautifully turned by Sem Westerveld, who returned to the base after injury. It was therefore not surprising that ADO took the lead. Amir Absalem passed and Verheydt now hit the target: 0-1. Just before the break, Mexx Meerdink, who played with AZ against West Ham United yesterday, had a free shooting opportunity. His shot just went wide.
The Alkmaar youngsters felt a little more sense after the break. First, substitute Ernest Poku shot wide of the goal and moments later a bet by Yusuf Barasi ended up in the hands of goalkeeper Hugo Wentges. Jorn Berkhout made his comeback after 16 months of injury. There were not many chances in the rest of the game, but ADO decided it just before time.
Joël Zwarts made it 2-0 and gave Dick Advocaat a victory. Moments before, Poku had the equalizer on his shoe, but that was not spent on him. Martens’ era at Young AZ therefore ended with a defeat.
Young AZ line-up: Westerveld; Postma (Kwakman/56), Goes (Twisk/46), Engel (Berkhout/75), Esajas (Kewal/75); Schouten, Neighbor, De Jong; Griffith (Reverson/85), Meerdink (Poku/46), Barasi