AZ and FC Twente share honours

Published on 12 april 12, 00:00

In the early exchanges, AZ pressed FC Twente, who missed Wout Brama and Willem Janssen through suspension, all over the place.

Altidore: 1-0
Simon Poulsen sent out an early warning, firing a shot across the face of goal after three minutes. One minute later, AZ made the breakthrough. Altidore cleverly pushed his marker Rasmus Bengtsson before heading home Maarten Martens´ inswinging corner past keeper Boschker: 1-0.

A constant threat
Altidore was a constant threat to his markers Bengtsson and Douglas, who regularly committed fouls in order to try and stop the American striker. A long ball was played in the path of Altidore in the 20th minute, but Bengtsson made a vital late challenge to deny him.

Long balls
FC Twente gradually fought themselves back into the game. They played long balls to find their strikers as their wingers Wesley Verhoek and Ola John put in a rather poor display. Luuk de Jong, who had recovered from injury, put FC Twente back on level terms on the half-hour mark. He superbly controlled another long ball and beat Esteban with a volley into the top-left corner: 1-1.

Altidore: 2-1
AZ regained the initiative after the break. Altidore sent a header just wide of the post, but the American put AZ again ahead after 71 minutes. He played a one-two with Adam Maher and his finish was clinical: 2-1.

Bajrami: 2-2
For a long time, AZ looked to be heading for a win. After Rasmus Elm had been stretchered off the pitch with an ankle injury, Leroy Fer brought out a fine save from Esteban in the 90th minute. Seconds later, the Costa Rican shot stopper was beaten by Bajrami´s close range header

In search of a winner
Both teams went in search of a winner in the hectic closing stages. Ragnar Klavan´s header went inches over the bar at the far post, while at the other end Plet fired wide on the turn.

Elm and Marcellis
Elm was stretchered off in the 84th minute with an ankle injury. Dirk Marcellis picked up his fifth booking off the season and will miss the next match, away against PSV on Saturday.

“I think we saw two teams in action with a different style of play”, said Verbeek at the post-match conference. “FC Twente were keen not to lose the game, whereas our lads were playing to win. We took the lead twice but should have scored more goals. The visitors brought in an extra, tall striker and snatched a late 2-2 draw. I am satisfied with my team’s performance , but not with the result. We should have won here tonight.”

MATCH DETAILS:
AZ – FC Twente 2-2 (1-1)

AZ line-up: Esteban; Dirk Marcellis, Niklas Moisander, Nick Viergever, Simon Poulsen; Adam Maher, Rasmus Elm (84. Ragnar Klavan), Maarten Martens; Roy Beerens, Jozy Altidore (80. Charlison Benschop), Johann Berg Gudmundsson.
FC Twente line-up: Sander Boschker; Roberto Rosales, Rasmus Bengtsson, Douglas, Dwight Tiendalli; Nils Röseler (81. Glynor Plet), Nacer Chadli, Leroy Fer; Wesley Verhoek (56. Emir Bajrami), Luuk de Jong, Ola John (81. Quincy Promes).

Goals: 4. Altidore 1-0, 31. De Jong 1-1, 71. Altidore 2-1, 90. Bajrami 2-2.
Booked: Marcellis, Martens (AZ), Douglas, Rosales, Röseler, Tiendalli (FC Twente)
Referee: Pieter Vink
Attendance: 16, 801