Swirling AZ after late goals in a great starting position for Conference League placement | Football

And so last week’s 7-0 against Dundee United turned out to have an effect on the players of AZ a week later, who roamed the field just as eagerly as against the Scots a week earlier. The team doesn’t seem to be able to miss the group stage anymore.

It was striking how different the two coaches approached the game. Jansen sent the same eleven into the field with which he played and won the last three matches. The formation of his Portuguese colleague Ivo Vieira differed by six positions compared to the previous two matches. It was equal on the part of Jansen and his frivolous playing team.

Dictate tempo

AZ dictated the pace of the game from the start, as it had done during the seven-hit against Dundee United. It was unfortunate that a mega chance by Myron van Brederode was incorrectly flagged for offside.

Just like against Dundee, AZ struck after more than twenty minutes via a nice attack plan. Tijjani Reijnders found Milos Kerkez after a one-two with Vangelis Pavlidis, who had slipped away from the striker and the 18-year-old Hungarian left back hurled a great cross towards the goal mouth, where Dani de Wit nodded relentlessly: 1-0.

riot

Where the opening goal a week earlier gave the home team wings, AZ stayed on its guard this time. Gil Vicente lived up to all the clichés that apply to a Portuguese football team. Take the riot provoked by defender Danilo Veiga just before half-time, as a result of which the AZ players lost their heads for a while and Kerkez and Sam Beukema were thrown on the receipt. It was undoubtedly a taste of what awaits Jansen’s disciples next Thursday in northern Portugal. Portuguese never give up.

The 11,211 spectators saw a second half in which every centimeter was fought for. AZ chased the all-important second goal and almost got it exactly after an hour: Reijnders saw his shot cleverly reversed by Andrew after a self-designed attack. Ten minutes later, the Gil goalie prevented shadow striker De Wit from crumpling in the 2-0.

Press thank you!

It was 2-0 in the end and it was well deserved. Hakon Evjen came through over the right and saw his pass bounce off the post via Lucas Cunha. The ball landed like a present at Mayckel Lahdo’s feet. The Swedish forward said ‘prima obrigado’ and doubled the margin.

Where most teams will defend such a lead, AZ gave full throttle one more time with fresh substitutes Mees de Wit, Yuki Sugawara and Yusuf Barasi. It resulted in two more goals in the final phase: the 3-0 by striker Pavlidis and the 4-0 by substitute Mees de Wit, after a great assist from Sugawara. The Japanese made his first minutes after his summer knee surgery. That was one of the many windfalls on a wonderful football evening at AZ.