Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 9:57 PM• Guy Habets

FC Twente has inflicted a painful defeat on AZ in the Grolsch Veste. Within eleven minutes, the Tukkers were already 2-0 ahead by two goals from Manfred Ugalde and the formation of coach Pascal Jansen could no longer rectify that: 2-1. Only Jesper Karlsson scored on behalf of AZ.

Last Thursday’s victory over Lazio (2-1) gave Pascal Jansen, AZ’s trainer, no reason to change. That meant that Yukinari Sugawara, who was suspended in the league last weekend, returned to the starting eleven and started as right back. At the same position, a mainstay also made its comeback at Twente. Joshua Brenet, who was briefly removed from the selection by trainer Ron Jans, replaced Alfons Sampsted there. Ugalde was again the deepest striker.

The drafting of the Costa Rican turned out to be another golden move by Jans. Last week, Ugalde was already accurate twice against Foruna Sittard and after five minutes it was also a hit against AZ. The much-discussed Brenet spooned a cross on the head of the striker, who hit the target flawlessly: 1-0. A little later, the recipe was the same. This time it was Václav Cerny who swung the ball towards the far post and saw Ugalde’s forehead promote his cross into goal. AZ stood there and watched it and was therefore 2-0 behind in no time.

The quarter-finalist in the Conference League then got into the game better, but always fought against Twente’s tight defense in vain. Lars Unnerstall was also at his post. When the defense of the Tukkers had to grant free passage to Tijjani Reijnders, the German made a good save and kept the margin at two. The same image was also seen after rest. AZ tried, but barely got through and also gave away the necessary space in the back. That almost resulted in a third Twente goal when a cannonball from Anass Salah-Eddine could only just be turned by Mathew Ryan.

Just when Twente seemed to have full control, AZ struck. Jordy Clasie sent Jesper Karlsson into the depth with a wonderful pass and he decided face to face with Unnerstall with a dry slider in the short corner: 2-1. At that moment more than twenty minutes had to be played and the Alkmaarders smelled their chance. A final offensive was launched, but the North Hollanders did not get further than a rejected goal by substitute Mexx Meerdink. Six minutes of stoppage time did not change that either.