Dutch Eredivisie: AZ Alkmaar 2-0 FC Utrecht – Match report
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Utrecht-c39237 at AFAS Stadion on Friday, November 25. Both sides failed to break the deadlock in the opening 45 minutes. However, the league leaders showed
their class in the second-half and cruised to an easy win.
The Alkmaar outfit dominated proceedings in front of their home crowd right from the kick-off. The first opportunity came for the hosts early in the match when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roy-Beerens-c31808 had the chance to break the deadlock.
However, the 23-year-old striker failed to hit the target and the chance went begging. Moments later, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Brett-Holman-c8047 also missed their chances and the score-line remained 0-0.
Ten minutes before the half-time break, the American forward made an impressive run down the right flank and played the ball to Holman at the edge of the box. However, the Australian ace saw his effort parried away by the Utreg goalkeeper, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rob-van-Dijk-c31210.
Moments later, Altidore played an impressive through ball to Holman yet again. However, the 27-year-old’s low effort hit the far post before going out for a goal-kick.
After the half-time interval, the Alkmaar outfit resumed action at the same pace and put immense pressure on the Utreg back-line. The consistent pressure rewarded the outfit from Alkmaar in the 67th minute, when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rasmus-Elm-c30628 curled in a free-kick
into the back of the net.
After taking the lead, the home side created more opportunities with Holman looking in inspired form. However, they failed to double their lead, keeping the visitors' hopes alive of making a comeback.
The outfit from Utrecht tried their level best to score the equaliser, but they never really managed to threaten the home side with their weak attempts. In the 89th minute, Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s goal put the game beyond Utreg's reach.
When the referee blew the final whistle to end proceedings at AFAS Stadion, the score-line read 2-0 in favour of the Alkmaar outfit.
All three points ensured that the outfit from Alkmaar, who have a game in hand, keep their position at the summit of the league table intact.
Gertjan Verbeek, AZ head coach, would be pretty pleased with his side’s performance in front of their home crowd, having won all of their seven fixtures at home.
He would be hoping that they continue to stage impressive shows and enhance their chances of lifting the Eredivisie title by end of the 2011/12 campaign.
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