AZ continue in Europe after Metalist draw

Published on 15 december 11, 00:00

Metalist started with five different players compared with the match in Kharkiv. The major part of the South-American legion was already sent on holiday, since Metalist was already set for the next round. AZ started with Johann Berg Gudmundsson instead of the slightly injured Brett Holman.

AZ started fierce and got three chance in the opening minutes when Maher and Nick Viergever tested Metalist goalkeeper Oleksandr Goryainov and Rasmus Elm saw his volley go wide.

Against the play it were Metalist that took the lead. Unmarked Marko Devic deflected a Oleg Shelayev effort and beat AZ goalkeeper Esteban: 0-1. It only took a minute for AZ to answer. Etiënne Reijnen brought the ball to Maher who passed Goryainov at the first post: 1-1.

On the edge of the break Elm saw his free-kick hit the crossbar. In the second half AZ first continued to search for the winning goal, with chances for Elm, Beerens and Altidore. In the final minutes of the game – when AZ knew the standing at Austria Wien-Malmö FF (2-0) – AZ stopped taking risks and waited for the final whistle.

With one victory and five draws it’s AZ’s first time to continue in Europe since the 2006-2007 season.

MATCHS STATISTICS:
AZ – Metalist Kharkiv 1-1 (1-1)

Lineup AZ: Esteban; Etiënne Reijnen, Niklas Moisander, Nick Viergever, Simon Poulsen; Pontus Wernbloom, Rasmus Elm, Adam Maher; Roy Beerens, Jozy Altidore, Johann Berg Gudmundsson (59. Brett Holman).
Lineup Metalist Kharkiv: Oleksandr Goryainov; Cristian Villagra, Marco Torsiglieri, Papa Gueye, Serhiy Pshenychnykh; Oleg Shelayev (61. Milan Obradovic), Serhiy Valyayev; Sebastián Blanco (89. Andriy Berezovchuk), Edmar, Oleksandr Romanchuk (74. Yevhen Budnik); Marko Devic.

Goals: 36. Devic 0-1, 37. Maher 1-1.
Bookings: Gudmundsson (AZ), Torsiglieri, Shelayev, Blanco (Metalist Kharkiv).
Sent-off: -
Referee: Carlos Clos Gomez (Spa)
Attendance: 13.268