Gertjan Verbeek’s side conceded the top spot on the table to Ajax Amsterdam after failing to secure all three points against John van den Brom’s men.
On Sunday, April 1, AZ Alkmaar recorded a hard fought 2-2 stalemate against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vitesse-c40905 Arnhem at GelreDome Stadion in the round 28 of Dutch top flight.
Despite dominating proceedings throughout the 90 minutes, the Alkmaar outfit lacked the incisiveness to put the match to bed, and the missed opportunities cost them two crucial points in the race for the title at the end.
The Arnhem outfit had the first opening in the 12th minute. However, Wilfried Bony’s headed flew over the crossbar after being picked up by Frank van der Struijk’s pinpoint cross.
AZ took control of the game afterwards, but failed to create anything of note. In the 32nd minute, the visiting side managed to break the deadlock through http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jozy-Altidore-c19634. Simon Poulsen’s cross from the left found the
American ace unmarked at the far post, and he made no mistake to head home from close range.
However, the home side restored parity only three minutes later. Frank van der Struijk’s long ball upfront found http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Esteban-Alvarado-c12908, into the back of the net.
Neither side failed to add any more goals in the remaining action of the first-half.
The home side could not have dreamt of a better start to the second-half, as they went in front within two minutes of resumption. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Marco-van-Ginkel-c23758
to make the score-line 2-1.
In the 52nd minute, Vitesse had an opportunity to put the match to bed. However, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Giorgi-Chanturia-c14929 failed to hit the target and the chance went begging, much to the dismay of Vitesse head coach, John van den Brom.
Seven minutes later, the Alkmaar outfit levelled the score-line through http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Brett-Holman-c8047, but the Danish stopper was believed to have made the final touch.
However, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AZ-c38571’s hopes of bagging all three points were dented in the 63rd minute, as Holman received his marching orders following a second bookable offence.
Vitesse tried to find the winner over the 10 men Alkmaar outfit and mounted immense pressure, but failed to find the back of the net in the remaining action of the game.
The match ended in a 2-2 stalemate with both sides sharing the spoils.
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