Welcome to our live blog! AZ will soon play the first official game of the season. The Alkmaarders compete against Ilves Tampere in the second preliminary round of the Conference League. We will keep you fully informed through this live blog. Tips or questions? Mail to [email protected].
Last: Ilves Tampere – AZ 4-3
Thank you for following. Next Thursday at 6.45 pm the return is in Alkmaar. Have a nice evening!
AZ loses 4-3 to Ilves Tampere. The team of Maarten Martens made a weak and not sharp impression in Finland. Next week is the return in Alkmaar. AZ has to win it with at least one goal difference to continue to the third preliminary round of the Conference League.
The moment the extra time goes in, Mexx Meerdink shoots the 4-3 against the ropes on the instructions of Sven Mijnans. That makes the starting position a lot more pleasant.
There is almost the fifth goal for Ilves. Jeroen Zoet saves on the line on a header and prevents the goal goal.
Maxim Dekker must be injured to the side. Alexandre Penetra is his replacement.
Troy Parrott, Ro-Zangelo Daal and Kees Smit leave the field. Zico Buurmeester, Isak Jensen and Maxx Meerdink come within the lines.
It’s going fast! There is the fourth goal for Ilves Tampere and the problems are slowly accumulating. From the edge of the sixteen, Marius Söderbäck shoots in the far corner and Jeroen Zoet is nailed to the ground.
Another goal. This time AZ is being won away after it took a corner itself. Adeleke Akinyemi comes in from the side and he shoots the ball in the far corner behind Jeroen Zoet.
Almost suddenly there is the lead there. Sven Mijnans completes Ernest Poku well, but his shot is far too weak to outwit the Ilves Tampere goalkeeper.
It is Sven Mijnans with the equalizer! The midfielder is only within the field for a few minutes and is immediately important. Troy Parrott sees his shot first blocked, then laid down on Mijnans and he shoots through the leg of an opponent in the upper corner.
A change on the side of AZ. Jordy Clasie is taken to the side and Sven Mijnans is his replacement.
The visor is not yet sharp in the second half. A cross by Kees Smit flies by everything and everyone. A long shot from DESO Kasius also sails quite far past.
With the same eleven players, AZ is back on the field for the second half. The team of coach Maarten Martens is still looking at a 2-1 deficit.
And again the Finns take the lead. The defense of AZ is easily put on a look. On a cross from the right side, it is free for Roope Riski, who makes his second of the evening.
AZ is a lead in Finland close by. Kees Smit touches the bottom of the bar after Troy Parrott heads a corner of Mees de Wit.
The pace collapses slightly and therefore the opportunities in this phase of the game are not forthcoming. AZ is much stronger than the Finns.
Ilves Tampere is dangerous from a corner. The ball lingers in front of Jeroen Zoet’s goal, after which the ball is shot hard.
Troy Parrott is served by Kees Smit and shoots AZ again at the same level in Finland!
Not in class. And AZ is behind in Finland. A long ball from backwards is completely misunderstood at the Alkmaarders. Roope Riski shoots an eye-in-eye with goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet the opening goal against the ropes.
A good action by Ernest Poku on the right. The wing attacker of AZ shoots the ball past.
Peer Koopmeiners shoots from outside the penalty area. His commitment goes well next to the goal of Ilves. The Finns are also trying to put high pressure, but AZ is playing quite a lot for it.
The fanatic supporters of Ilves Tampere has set off fireworks that come from a lot of smoke. The referee stops the match for a moment, but the match has already resumed.
The game started in a very hot Tampere. The temperature taps the 29 degrees in Finland.
If AZ succeeds in eliminating Ilves Tampere over two games, then it already knows the next opponent. The UEFA has already drawn for the third preliminary round of the Conference League. FC Vaduz (Liechtenstein) or Dungannon Swifts (Northern Ireland) then wait.
Good afternoon. We prepare for the AZ competition. The Alkmaarders are in Finland for the meeting with Ilves Tampere. Next Thursday is the return in Alkmaar.