Adam Maher’s strike in the opening half was enough for the Eredivisie outfit, as Gertjan Verbeek’s men cruised to a narrow victory over the Belgian League Pro side.
In the first-leg of UEFA Europa League’s Round-of-32, AZ Alkmaar managed to secure a hard fought 1-0 victory over http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/RSC-Anderlecht-c40394 at AFAS Stadion on Thursday, February 16.
The home side started the match with aggressive intent. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Brett-Holman-c8047 had a good opportunity to break the deadlock in the third minute. However, he fired his effort well over the crossbar, much to the dismay of AZ head coach, Gertjan Verbeek.
Moments later, an impressive through ball found http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Charlison-Benschop-c8846 one-on-one with the visitors’ goalkeeper, Silvio Aliaj Proto, but the forward was flagged offside.
As the match progressed, the early aggression seemed to fade away and much of the action started to take place in the midfield. However, the hosts managed to take the lead in the 35th minute through Adam Maher. Simon Poulsen’s cross from the left
flank found Maher in the box, who made no mistake in slotting home from close range.
Moments later, Holman fired his effort wide of the target. On the other end, the AZ goalkeeper, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lucas-c22528 Biglia’s effort.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roy-Beerens-c31808 and Holman yet again missed the target, as the visitors continued to live dangerously. Nonetheless, the score-line read 1-0 at the half-time interval.
After the break, both sides took plenty of time to settle, but the home team yet again remained the better of the two sides.
In the 57th minute, Beerens shot straight into the hands of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Silvio-Proto-c33513. Three minutes later, Holman’s effort was easily saved by the visitors’ goalkeeper. The 28-year-old shot-stopper then parried away a low effort from Maher, as the hosts’
failed to kill off the game.
Buoyed by their http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Good-Luck-c39444, the outfit from Anderlecht pushed forward in the closing stages of the match. A foul on Matias Suarez gave the visitors a free-kick in a dangerous area.
Biglia’s free-kick found Roland Juhasz in the box, but the defender failed to control his header and the ball sailed over the crossbar.
Moments later, Dieudonne Mbokani sent a ball in for GuillaumeGillet in the box, but the AZ goalkeeper punched the ball clear and the chance went begging.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AZ-c38571.
The return leg between the two sides will be played at Constant Vanden Stock Stadium on February 23.
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