AZ pulled off a stunning stunt in the Europa League on Thursday evening. Trainer Maarten Martens missed many players, but still managed to deal with José Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe. And all thanks to the dream debut of Ro-Zangelo Daal and a great goal by eighteen-year-old Kees Smit.
The Alkmaarders were considerably depleted. Martens could not call on David Møller Wolfe (suspended), Jordy Clasie, Bruno Martins Indi, Kristijan Belic, Ruben van Bommel, Zico Buurmeester, Ibrahim Sadiq and Lequincio Zeefuik (all injured). Dave Kwakman and Jayden Addai made their European basic debut. There was plenty of routine among the Turks. Dusan Tadic was of course at the kick-off, but Edin Dzeko, Sofyan Amrabat, Fred and goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic also started for the Turks.
Initially, Mourinho’s team was the better one. Dzeko put Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro to work twice, while Allan Saint-Maximin failed to capitalize on Tadic’s preliminary work. On the other hand, AZ could only become dangerous through Troy Parrott, but the Irish striker found Caglar Söyüncü on his way to the goal.
It wasn’t until the second half that the game really ignited. It was a great fight, thanks to the very young AZ, which decided to fight the Turks with bravado. This was partly thanks to Ro-Zangelo Daal (20), who was sent on at halftime and made his debut. It became a dream debut, because after just under an hour of playing Daal became the celebrated man. The attacker tapped in Parrott’s cross at the far post, causing the Alkmaar crowd to explode with joy (1-0).
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Excellent debutants floor Fenerbahçe
The celebration was short-lived, because although Owusu-Oduro saved a penalty from Youssef En-Nesyri, AZ received an immediate answer from Fenerbahçe moments later. The Moroccan nodded his head as a more difficult ball hit the ropes (1-1). As a result, AZ had to start again, but that was spent on Kees Smit (18).
Cold on the field, the teenager, who made his European debut, launched an attack. After a great combination with Sven Mijnans, Smit thundered into the sixteen-meter area. The ball landed at his feet via a nice heel, but instead of lashing out, Smit decided to make an action. He danced through the Turkish defense in an unparalleled way, after which he scored ice-cold: 2-1.
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Where Mourinho aimed for a comeback, it turned out to be a disappointment The Special One. And once again it was Smit who stood up in an almost absurdist manner. The creative put away the approaching Denso Kasius with a precise through ball, after which the AZ party was completed and the stunt was completed: 3-1.
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