Young AZ spoils Almere City party; draw at Young Ajax – De Graafschap

Young AZ closed the season well with a resounding 3-0 victory. Visiting Almere City, which had won the fourth period by winning, the Alkmaarders struck three times after the break. Young Ajax kept the De Graafschap in check: 1-1.

Happy Young AZ players after a goal against Almere City – Pro Shots / Ron Baltus

Almere City – Young AZ

The tension seemed to become too much for Almere City and Jong AZ took advantage of that. Cold on the field, Mexx Meerdink opened the score in the 68th minute with a dry bang in the bottom right corner.

The Alkmaarders were not satisfied with that lead. That resulted in the 0-2 just under fifteen minutes before the end. Mo Taabouni made the decision from a cross by substitute Quinten Dekkers. Ten minutes later, Taabouni also converted a penalty: 0-3.

Thanks to the victory, Jong AZ surpasses Almere City in the ranking. Maarten Martens’ team finishes in thirteenth place with 42 points from 38 matches.

Line-up Young AZ: Giant; Lathouwers (Dekkers/72), Velthuis, Dekker, Kerkez (Engel/84); Koopmeiners (Griffith/65), Taabouni, Buurmeester; De Jong, Duin (Meerdink/65), Poku (Van Brederode/65)

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Ar’jany Marta (center) after his goal against De Graafschap – Pro Shots / Stefan Koops

Young Ajax – De Graafschap

It was an exciting evening for the visitors from Doetinchem. If Almere City would win the period, there was a good chance that De Graafschap would miss the play-offs. It didn’t get that far, so the Doetinchemmers can prepare for the dessert of the season.

In Amsterdam, De Graafschap took the lead after the break. Jeffry Fortes headed in from a corner. Sam Hendriks and Giovanni Korte missed great opportunities, so that Jong Ajax remained in the match. Ar’jany Martha made the most of that by making the 1-1 in the 78th minute.

Young Ajax ends a good season with no fewer than 82 goals (together with Excelsior the most of all teams) in seventh place. The selection of trainer John Heitinga collected 63 points, twenty less than champion FC Emmen.

Line-up Young Ajax: Gorter; Van Gelderen, Aertssen (Delgado/69), Hillen (Yah/46), Musampa; Warmerdam, Hlynsson, Fitz-Jim (Banel/57); Ihattaren (Martha/57), Rasmussen, Ünüvar (Misehouy/69)

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