EINDHOVEN – Twice last night, AZ managed to take the lead in Eindhoven against PSV, the leader in the Eredivisie. In the 85th minute, De Jong prevented the Alkmaarders from taking full advantage by using a penalty.
(source: ANP / Nieuws.nl)
In the run-up to the first game of the new year, Bosz had indicated that his team had regained freshness during the winter break. But the same eleven players who convincingly defeated Feyenoord (3-0) in the last game before the winter break, played very sloppily against AZ in the first hour. The supporters, who had been excited in advance with fireworks and a New Year’s speech by director Marcel Brands, regularly showed their dissatisfaction.
AZ, which has won the past five league matches, had the first big chance of the match through striker Troy Parrott after ten minutes. Goalkeeper Walter Benítez made a good save on a hard header from the Irishman, who then missed the empty goal with a volley on the rebound. About five minutes later, Parrott aimed the ball between the posts after a smooth attack, but right back Richard Ledezma barely cleared the ball off the line.
Weak start after rest
PSV became dangerous for the first time after half an hour. Ismael Saibari headed wide from a promising position. Precisely at a time when AZ was unable to achieve much in terms of football, the Swede Mayckel Lahdo gave the visitors the lead. Ruben van Bommel’s replacement dribbled in from the left in the 41st minute and bounced the ball into the far corner.
The home team also started the second half weakly. Only after the introduction of Joey Veerman, Guus Til and Johan Bakayoko did the pace increase. Immediately after the triple substitution, Veerman sent Til away, who offered De Jong an unmissable opportunity to equalize: 1-1.
Penalty De Jong
But AZ coach Maarten Martens was also successful with his substitution policy. Mexx Meerdink provided a new Alkmaar lead with a clever header fifteen minutes before the end and a minute after coming on as a substitute.
PSV needed a penalty to get back on level terms. Van Bommel got the ball against his outstretched arm and PSV captain De Jong did not fail from eleven meters: 2-2. There were no big opportunities after that, leaving the national champion with a 4-point lead over Ajax.
Double feeling
AZ coach Maarten Martens has mixed feelings about the late 2-2 draw at PSV. “Disappointment dominates, because we got three points. But PSV won everything here. So the fact that we ultimately scored twice, should have even scored one more and that we took a point with us, is just very good. And the fact that we are disappointed says everything,” Martens said at the Philips Stadium.
PSV coach Peter Bosz had few positive words for his team’s first half against AZ (2-2). “We were sloppy and fell short in many areas. We could have conceded more than one goal in the first half. The second half was better and we did have control, but we can also be happy that we still get a penalty where we scored the equalizer. Maybe we should cherish that point,” Bosz said at his press conference afterwards.
The draw brings Ajax within 4 points of coach Peter Bosz’s team. AZ is number 5 with 13 points behind PSV.
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