AZ stay second after win over VVV
Published on 23 april 12, 00:00AZ did not manage to win a game in almost a month, losing against PSV and Valencia and drawing against FC Twente and Vitesse. VVV-Venlo, who are preparing for the promotion/relegation play-offs, hadnt won four matches in a row either, but started furiously. A Yanic Wildschut effort was stopped by keeper Esteban and a 20-metres-rebound from Barry Maguire hit the post.
After half an hour AZ took control of the match and started to put more pressure on VVV-Venlo. Brett Holman (saved by keeper Dennis Gentenaar) and Roy Beerens (over) fired two dangerous efforts and Maarten Martens was even closer after a Dirk Marcellis cross but his effort from closeby was stopped by Gentenaar as well.
Jozy Altidore twice was close to the opening goal. First he was served by Rasmus Elm after which his low shot hit the post, second his header after a Beerens cross ended on the post.
Immediately after the break AZ was rewarded with a goal from Holman, who got the ball from Adam Maher. The Australian forward fired a low shot in the lower corner of the goal: 1-0. Against the play VVV-Venlo equalized when Yanic Wildschut outplayed Marcellis and saw his cross put bhind Esteban by substitute Quin Kruijsen.
It didnt took much time before AZ answered back. First Danny Holla saved a firing shot from Elm from the goal line. Few seconds later a heard from Altidore was too much for the VVV-Venlo defense. The striker headed home his fifteemth league goal of the season after good preparation from Martens and Simon Poulsen.
In the final phase of the match AZ forgot to increase the scoring, which kept the audience in suspense. Altidore, Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Maher found keeper Gentenaar in their way. Because of the victory AZ stay second in the Eredivisie, one goal advantage ahead of nearest competitor Feyenoord. AZ and Feyenoord meet in Rotterdam next week. Niklas Moisander misses the match due to his booking against VVV-Venlo.
MATCH STATISTICS:
AZ VVV-Venlo 2-1 (0-0)
Lineup AZ: Esteban; Dirk Marcellis, Niklas Moisander, Nick Viergever, Simon Poulsen; Adam Maher, Rasmus Elm, Maarten Martens; Roy Beerens (69. Mattias Johansson), Jozy Altidore (89. Charlison Benschop), Brett Holman (80. Johann Berg Gudmundsson).
Lineup VVV-Venlo: Dennis Gentenaar; Michael Timisela, Ismo Vorstermans (88. Steven Berghuis), Maya Yoshida, Jeffrey Leiwakabessy; Marcel Meeuwis, Danny Holla, Barry Maguire (54. Quin Kruijsen); Yanic Wildschut, Michael Uchebo, Bryan Linssen (85. Uche Nwofor).
Goals: 47. Holman 1-0, 59. Kruijsen 1-1, 65. Altidore 2-1.
Bookings: Moisander (AZ).
Sent-offs: -
Referee: Bas Nijhuis
Attendance: 16.459