Resilient AZ deals the next blow to RKC in the relegation battle

AZ achieved a hard-fought victory over RKC Waalwijk in the Eredivisie on Saturday evening. The team of coach Maarten Martens faced a 0-2 deficit at halftime thanks to a double by David Min. In the second company, Yukinari Sugawara, Ibrahim Sadiq and Vangelis Pavlidis still ensured a great Alkmaar victory. AZ has a firmer grip on fourth place, while RKC remains sixteenth, one point behind Excelsior.

AZ was expected to bounce back after the two major defeats against Heracles Almelo (5-0) and PSV (5-1). However, during the warm-up, trainer Maarten Martens already had to suffer a big setback. Captain Jordy Clasie withdrew with a groin injury and was replaced in the starting line-up by nineteen-year-old Dave Kwakman, who made his starting debut.

Within three minutes after kick-off, the Alkmaarders were dealt another blow as Min scored the visitors' lightning-fast opening goal. The striker managed to keep Michiel Kramer on the bench and immediately proved why.

Mats Seuntjens swung the ball towards AZ's sixteen, where Min was able to score thanks to a nice heel from Reuven Niemeijer: 0-1. The home team thought they would come up with an answer just as quickly when Kwakman's cross was smothered. Vangelis Pavlidis was alert, but saw his effort hit the post.

AZ continued to hunt for the equalizer and came close through Sven Mijnans. After a through ball from Sugawara, the midfielder came across Etienne Vaessen, who reacted alertly and was able to parry with his foot by quickly reducing his goal.

RKC then went into halftime with a 0-2 lead against the odds after a huge mistake by Sugawara. The Japanese delivered a wide pass to Min, after which the Waalwijk striker surprised goalkeeper Mathew Ryan with a shot from just over the halfway line.

AZ seemed unable to turn the game around. Yet the comeback was initiated after a triple substitution. Sadiq, Myron van Brederode and Mees de Wit came in ahead of Kwakman, Ruben van Bommel and David Møller Wolfe. Sugawara brought back the tension halfway through the second half with a hard shot: 1-2.

Sadiq then made it 2-2 with a mop ball from distance and Pavlidis even gave AZ the full spoils a few minutes later by subtly extending a shot from Tiago Dantas behind his supporting leg: 3-2. The Greek striker is once again level with Luuk de Jong, who scored his 25th and 26th goal of this Eredivisie season earlier in the evening.

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