Published on February 10, 24, 9:52 PM
ALMERE- AZ failed to beat Almere City FC on Saturday evening. In the Yanmar Stadium the match ended as it started: 0-0.
AZ mercenary Peer Koopmeiners started in the starting line-up at Almere City. Dani de Wit was missing from AZ due to a suspension. As a result, Kristijan Belić had a starting spot for the Alkmaarders.
Waiting
It was a tentative opening phase in Almere, but after just over fifteen minutes of play, AZ had a great chance. Vangelis Pavlidis passed the ball to Ruben van Bommel. The latter came in and took a swing from an awkward angle, but his attempt went just wide. After just over half an hour, Jayden Addai’s shot went wide and Sugawara’s free kick sailed over. Both teams went to the dressing room at 0-0.
Huge opportunity
The second half started with a fiercer AZ, which immediately created a huge opportunity. After a good ball from Wouter Goes, Pavlidis came face to face with Nordin Bakker. The striker waited a long time before shooting and eventually the goalkeeper was able to tap the ball into the side net. Less than a minute later, Addai’s attempt from the edge of the penalty area went just wide.
Lying down storm
After that opening phase in the second half, the AZ storm subsided somewhat, but towards the end there was a final offensive with quite a few chances. Lequincio Zeefuik had now come on and, after a nice combination in the front, fell just short of getting to the ball before Bakker. The same Bakker was in the way of an attempt by speed devil Ernest Poku. A very last attempt by Mijnans flew high. That left it at 0-0.
MATCH CHARACTERISTICS
Almere City FC – AZ 0-0
Eredivisie
Almere City FC line-up: Nordin Baker; Jochem Ritmeester van de Kamp, Joey Jacobs, Damian van Bruggen, Theo Barbet, Sherel Floranus; Stije Resink, Álvaro Peña (63. Rajiv van La Parra), Peer Koopmeiners; Thomas Robinet, Yoann Cathline.
AZ setup: Matthew Ryan; Yukinari Sugawara, Wouter Goes, Riechedly Bazoer, David Møller Wolfe; Jordy Clasie, Kristijan Belić (74. Lequincio Zeefuik), Sven Mijnans; Jayden Addai (66. Ernest Poku), Vangelis Pavlidis, Ruben van Bommel (66. Myron van Brederode).
Yellow cards: Jacobs, Robinet (Almere City FC), Addai (AZ).
Referee: Alex Bos.
WAS: Joey Kooy.