AZ take convincing win over FC Groningen

Published on 28 augustus 11, 00:00

AZ started with Adam Maher in the lineup at the expense of slightly injured Maarten Martens. It was the first time as a starter for the 17-year-old midfielder. The rest of the team didn’t differ from the starting lineup against Aalesunds FK.

AZ had a fantastic start. Within one minute Nick Viergever headed home the fastest goal of the Eredivisie-season from a Rasmus Elm corner: 0-1. After this dynamic start FC Groningen took matters in its hands and created some chances through Lorenzo Burnet, Dusan Tadic and Danny Holla.

On the other side AZ had opportunities through Brett Holman and Maher. The halftime score was 0-1 because FC Groningen also didn’t score from two dangerous free kicks from Leandro Bacuna and Tadic.

After the break Groningen kept coming without becoming really dangerous. Tim Matavz, Tom Hiariej and Virgil van Dijk came close but didn’t endanger goalkeeper Esteban. So come, it was AZ that doubled the score when Johann Berg Gudmundsson crossed almost the entire pitch and beat FC Groningen goalkeeper Brian van Loo with a powerful shot.

Responsible

Van Loo was responsible for the third AZ goal. He dropped a free kick from Elm that made the ball disappear into the net: 0-3.

MATCH STATISTICS:
FC Groningen – AZ 0-3 (0-1)

Lineup FC Groningen: Brian van Loo; Tom Hiariej, Jonas Ivens, Kees Kwakman, Lorenzo Burnet (80. Emil Johansson); Danny Holla (62. Tim Sparv), Maikel Kieftenbeld, Petter Andersson (62. Virgil van Dijk); Leandro Bacuna, Tim Matavz, Dusan Tadic.

Lineup AZ: Esteban; Dirk Marcellis, Niklas Moisander, Nick Viergever, Simon Poulsen; Pontus Wernbloom, Adam Maher, Rasmus Elm; Roy Beerens, Jozy Altidore (75. Erik Falkenburg), Brett Holman (46. Johann Berg Gudmundsson).

Goals: 1. Viergever 0-1, 79. Gudmundsson 0-2, 84. Elm 0-3.
Bookings: Holla (FC  Groningen), Holman, Wernbloom, Altidore, Elm, Falkenburg (AZ).
Sent-off:
Referee: Kevin Blom.
Attendance: 22.128