Relieved faces at AZ and sour faces at FC Volendam. The Alkmaarders won again in the Eredivisie after two games. Despite an early red card for Dani de Wit, the Eel farmers were defeated: 2-1.
The start of the North Holland derby was spectacular. After just two minutes, Jens Odgaard danced through the FC Volendam defense. He then tipped the ball over Filip Stankovic, but Daryl van Mieghem took the ball off the line acrobatically. In the counterpunch, the Palingboeren became dangerous through Damon Mirani from a corner. His header was saved by Hobie Verhulst (former Volendam goalkeeper).
Within fifteen minutes Dani de Wit received a red card. He slipped on to Robert Mühren and was allowed to take a shower. Despite the fact that the team became ten, the Alkmaarders took the lead via Odgaard from a cross by Yukinari Sugawara: 1-0. Just before half time, Tijjani Reijnders doubled the margin from a pass by Jesper Karlsson. Just before that, Walid Ould-Chikh had killed another great opportunity.
Watch Reijnders’ goal below. Text continues below the tweet
Voltage back
Wim Jonk tried to force something against the ten of AZ and brought Henk Veerman into the field. The tall striker immediately paid off that confidence by scoring the connecting goal: 2-1. Stankovic turned an important shot from Odgaard.
Vangelis Pavlidis then made his comeback for the Alkmaarders. The Greek was injured at the end of August against SC Cambuur. Moments later, Van Mieghem was able to equalize his team, but his effort was turned by Verhulst. Pavlidis scored another goal, but it was disallowed for offside.
With the win, AZ rises to third place behind Ajax and PSV. Volendam remains the red lantern bearer in the Eredivisie. Next week AZ will go to Waalwijk for the game against RKC. In the same way, the Volendam team plays at home against Feyenoord.
AZ setup: concealed; Hatzidiakos, Beukema, Dekker, Kerkez (M. De Wit/80); Clasie, D. De Wit, Reijnders; Sugawara (Koopmeiners/72), Odgaard (Pavlidis/61), Karlsson (Bazoer/61)
FC Volendam line-up: Stankovic; Flat (Benamar/85), Mbuyamba, Mirani, Murkin; W. Ould-Chikh, Oristanio, Eiting; Van Mieghem (Zeefuik/85), Muhren, El Kadiri (James/69)