Late comeback earns AZ a point

Published on 20 oktober 11, 00:00

AZ started with Johann Berg Gudmundsson instead of injured Brett Holman while Ragnar Klavan replaced Nick Viergever. In attack Charlison Benschop played for Jozy Altidore.

AZ dominated from the first moment but played sloppy and negligent. The opening goal AZ was waiting for suddenly fell on the other side when Dirk Marcellis scored an own goal from a Zlatko Junuzovic corner: 0-1.

The defensive visitors got self-confident and were dangerous with counterattacks while AZ looked in nothing like the well playing team from the past weeks. Austria Wien even doubled the scoring when Alexander Gorgon scored from a rebound: 0-2.

After the break Austria Wien even started more defensive and AZ had problems finding space to create anything. Only after 25 minutes in the second half AZ had their first opportunity when Roy Beerens saw his shot saved by goalkeeper Pascal Grünwald.

In the final phase of the match Jozy Altidore and Fernando Lewis were brought in for Roy Beerens and Adam Maher. After Pontus Wernbloom missed a chance for open goal Peter Hlinka shot a newcomer Lewis’ cross behind his own goalkeeper: 1-2.

Few minutes later a Rasmus Elm corner was touched by Wernbloom and flew in the net for the 2-2 end result. In group G AZ drop to the second place with five points. Metalist Kharkiv, that beat Malmö FF 4-1, stay on top with seven points, Austria Wien (third with four points) and Malmö FF (zero points) complete the group.

MATCH STATISTICS:
AZ – Austria Wien 2-2 (0-2)
Europa League

Lineup AZ: Esteban; Dirk Marcellis, Niklas Moisander ©, Ragnar Klavan, Simon Poulsen; Pontus Wernbloom, Rasmus Elm, Adam Maher (74. Jozy Altidore); Roy Beerens (69. Fernando Lewis), Charlison Benschop, Johann Berg Gudmundsson (80. Celso Ortiz).
Lineup Austria Wien: Pascal Grünwald; Florian Klein, Georg Margreitter, Manuel Ortlechner (c), Markus Suttner; Peter Hlinka, Florian Mader; Alexander Gorgon, TomᚠJun, Zlatko Junuzovic; Nacer Barazite (87. Roland Linz).

Goals: 18. Marcellis 0-1 (o.g.), 29. Gorgon 0-2, 80. Hlinka 1-2 (o.g.), 83. Wernbloom 2-2.
Bookings: Wernbloom, Poulsen (AZ).
Sent-off: Moisander (90th minute, 2x yellow).
Referee: Tudor (Rom).
Attendance: 15.321