AZ has three points left over against Dnipro-1 in the Conference League. Pascal Jansen’s team had a hard time against the Ukrainian team, but a goal from Dani de Wit was enough for the victory: 0-1. Both teams did not show great football, but the victory allowed the Alkmaarders to continue their advance in Europe. Because Apollon Limassol and FC Vaduz shared the points (0-0), AZ is leading in Group E.
The Conference League game was played in Kosice, Slovakia, because of the Russo-Ukrainian War. AZ started the first game in the group stage of the Conference League with the same basic team as last Sunday. Then the Alkmaarders won 3-0 at FC Emmen. Trainer Jansen still had to do without Vangelis Pavlidis, Bruno Martins Indi and Jesper Karlsson. Jansen showed for the cameras of ESPN unable to switch despite the busy schedule. “The boys are recovering well and therefore remain an option. And if they are an option they can play,” he explained.
Dani de Wit moves @AZAlkmaar ahead in Slovakia! ?? ?? ESPN #?? #DNIAZ pic.twitter.com/nFRZ7ckfYy
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) September 8, 2022
In the first half, in a soaking wet Kosice, both teams touched each other a bit and not much happened. AZ did escape a goal against. After a good low cross from Artem Dovbyk, Sam Beukema slid the ball towards his own goal. Fortunately for him and AZ, the leather hit the post. Both teams were sloppy in possession and so the game went back and forth. The Alkmaarders did have a slight preponderance, but this did not lead to opportunities and both keepers were not tested. A sharp cross from Jordy Clasie was not for anyone and striker Jens Odgaard had several arguments with the ball and suffered a lot of loss of the ball.
In minute 54, a ball ended up between the posts for the first time when Oleksiy Gutsulyak won a header against Kerkez. However, Hobie Verhulst was able to catch easily. Odgaard was unintentionally close to a goal after an hour when his cross landed on the crossbar through the fingertips of Dnipro-1 keeper Araujo da Silva. It was his last action as Jansen then decided to make three substitutions and with result. One such substitute, Yuki Sugawara, was cold in the field when he sent a sharp cross into the box from the right. No one paid attention to Dani de Wit and the number 10 could easily walk in. Dnipro-1 then tried to show its teeth more offensively, but AZ almost made it 0-2 via Beukema. He was able to head in a corner freely, but his sights were not sharp.
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