AZ returns to Alkmaar with a bad starting position. Dundee United narrowly lost on Thursday night with a goal from Glen Middleton. Especially the game of Pascal Jansen’s team was very weak.
The start of AZ was still energetic, that played without the injured Jens Odgaard, Zinho Vanheusden and Riechedly Bazoer. Odgaard still played against Tuzla City and was replaced by Mayckel Lahdo. Without the absentees, the game of the Alkmaarders was very poor.
The visitors created the first danger, but Hakon Evjen’s cross ended behind Vangelis Pavlidis. After this pinprick, the level dropped rapidly. Craig Sibbald tested Hobie Verhulst with a hard shot from long range and Lahdo headed after a cross from Milos Kerkez.
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In the second half happened what had been in the air for a while. At first AZ could breathe a sigh of relief when a shot from Steven Flechter went past. The Scots came out very quickly after a counterattack and struck hard through Glenn Middleton: 1-0.
A hard drive by Bruno Martins Indi from a free kick led to a final offensive. For example, striker Pavlidis tried to outwit Mark Birighitti with a hard swipe. A bet that followed from the Greek also ended wide. Thus, the Alkmaarders have to try to turn the job around in their favor next week.
return
The return will be played on August 11 in Alkmaar. The kick-off is 9 pm and if AZ manages to win over two matches, Riga FC or Gil Vicente will be the next opponent. The Eredivisie season starts next Sunday at home against Go Ahead Eagles, kicking off from 4.45 pm.
AZ: concealed; Hatzidiakos, Beukema, Martins Indi, Kerkez; Reijnders, Clasie, D. De Wit; Evjen, Pavlidis, Lahdo (Van Brederode/71)