For the first time since August 4, AZ has lost an official match. The team of trainer Pascal Jansen lost the fourth group match in the Conference League with 1-0 at Apollon Limassol. As a result, the unbeaten series comes to an end after fifteen games without a defeat.
At AZ there was room for Riechedly Bazoer in the base for the first time. The midfielder took the place of Dani de Wit, who moved one line to the striker. The occasional striker was also immediately dangerous. In the seventh minute, De Wit headed against the crossbar from a cross by Milos Kerkez.
Sleeping Dani de Wit
AZ did not have the desired control and saw Apollon Limassol create small chances a number of times. However, the Alkmaarders could have taken the lead after half an hour of play. Apollon keeper Jovanovic turned a ball and Riechedly Bazoer then saw his clever effort removed from the line. Against all odds, however, Apollon took the lead. Dani de Wit was asleep at a corner, through which Valentin Roberge headed in the 1-0 from a corner.
Towards the break, AZ was searching and Apollon had more threat. The leader in the Eredivisie had no answer for the Cypriots’ game. AZ’s game was certainly not bad, but it lacked poison and the pace at which they played football was too slow to force a breakthrough. With Jens Odgaard and Mayckel Lahdo on the line, trainer Pascal Jansen made two substitutions in the break.
Searching
It was clear in the second half that AZ was not in great shape in Cyprus. In the first phase after the break it went looking for the equalizer. Bazoer saw his effort skim just over the wrong side of the post, but otherwise many attacks stalled halfway through Apollon’s half.
Many passes at AZ were careless and therefore it was not possible to put Apollon with his back against the wall. AZ’s final offensive started when Dani de Wit got a big chance from a corner ten minutes before the end. However, he shot the ball straight into Jovanovic’s hands. The Alkmaarders were looking for a breakthrough, but were unable to break Apollin’s wall. As a result, the first loss since August 4 was a fact. Then the team lost 1-0 to Dundee United in the third qualifying round of the Conference League.
Next Sunday, AZ will play in the league again. The top match against Feyenoord is then on the program in Alkmaar at 4.45 pm. Flashes of the match can be heard on NH Radio.
AZ setup: concealed; Hatzidiakos (Lahdo/46), Beukema, Dekker (Koopmeiners/62), Kerkez (M. De Wit/62), Clasie (Odgaard/46), Bazoer, Reijnders; Sugawara, D. De Wit, Karlsson (Van Brederode/62)