AZ suffered a 2-0 defeat to Celtic on Wednesday evening in the play-offs for the group stage of the Europa League. The team of trainer Pascal Jansen had several good opportunities, but failed to make the net. With goals from Kyogo Furuhashi and James Forrest, the Glasgow club has the best papers to qualify for the main stage of the club tournament. The return is scheduled for next Thursday.
The visitors got off to a strong start in Glasgow. Celtic already escaped a deficit in the fifth minute. Teun Koopmeiners, who returned to the base after his substitution last weekend against RKC Waalwijk (1-0 loss), had a measured cross from the left to Vangelis Pavlidis. The Greek striker saw his effort changed by the toe of Celtic keeper Joe Hart: the ball landed on the post. Just before that, Zakaria Aboukhlal hoped for a penalty, but in the eyes of the arbitration he went to the ground too easily.
After the strong start of AZ, Celtic quickly took over the initiative. It led to the opening goal in the twelfth minute. From the left, David Turnbull passed the far post, where Kyogo Furuhashi hit hard from close range. AZ keeper Hobie Verhulst, who was preferred at Celtic Park by trainer Pascal Jansen to purchase Peter Vindahl Jensen, had no chance. Verhulst was put to work by the attackers of Celtic. With a number of necessary saves, the closing post kept AZ going. Liel Abada and Tom Rogic, among others, were dangerous on behalf of Celtic. On the other side of the field, Hart prevented the equalizer after a shot by Aboukhlal in the far corner.
The start of the second half looked like a copy of the first. Just like in the first company, AZ came out of the dressing room strong immediately after the break. The visitors’ urge to attack led to an enormous opportunity for Thijs Oosting. After good preparatory work by Pavlidis, the left back shot high from close range. Minutes later, Celtic escaped again when Aboukhlal shot into the side net from a tricky angle through a Scottish leg. Where AZ missed the opportunities, Celtic doubled their lead fifteen minutes after the tea. James Forrest shot from the turn in the penalty area and saw his effort changed by Timo Letschert, leaving Verhulst with no chance: 2-0.
Towards the end of the match, AZ was emphatically looking for the connecting goal in front of 50,000 spectators. The best chances, however, belonged to the home side. Five minutes before the end it was Verhulst who prevented a third Scottish goal with two cat-like reflexes on the goal line. In the end, Bruno Martins Indi headed a bet by substitute Adam Montgomery off the line. It is because of these saves that AZ does not stand a chance for the return. Both teams were unable to score again and will meet again next Thursday, then in Alkmaar (8:15 PM). AZ can get to work.