Young AZ has not been able to beat Helmond Sport between the two games of the first team. There was little exciting to experience tonight at a well-filled Sportpark Kalverhoek. The highlight was Soulyman Allouch’s ‘Panenka’. But after Peter van Ooijen’s equalizer it remained at 1-1.
A very young team from Young AZ appeared at the kick-off against Helmond Sport. Logical, given the program of the first. They played against Fortuna Sittard (3-1) yesterday and will meet Go Ahead Eagles on Wednesday.
The Brabanders hardly came out in the first half. They did not get further than a shot from Monnickendammer Martijn Kaars. Young AZ could only match long shots from Lewis Schouten, Fedde de Jong and Jayden Addai. At times, the Alkmaarders could easily combine, but Helmond remained compact.
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As boring as the first half was, the start of the second act was so exciting. Allouch was allowed to moor for a penalty kick after a foul by Peter van Ooijen. The AZ attacker knocked Mike Havekotte with a ‘Panenka’. In no time it was right again. Van Ooijen, of all people, scored the 1-1 on a pass from Eros Maddy.
After that equalizer, the game was up and down. So Ernest Poku got a big chance. The substitute attacker of Jong AZ was sent deep and shot face to face with Havekotte full on the post. Helmond Sport then became dangerous with a long shot. A mop ball from Van Ooijen was tapped out of the goal by Rome-Jayden Owuso-Oduro. The visitors seemed to take the lead almost out of nowhere, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Young AZ remains seventh in the first division and will play against NAC Breda on Friday. The kick-off is at 8 p.m. in Breda.
Young AZ line-up: Owusu–Oduro; Van Aken, Postma, Engel, Dekkers; Twisk (Kwakman/84), Schouten (Smit/74), De Jong; Adda (Poku/46)i, Meerdink (Reverson/84) and Allouch