Brett Holman’s first-half strike was cancelled out by Mehmet Topal early in the second-half, but Maarten Martens’ winner gives the Eredivisie leaders advantage over Unai Emery’s men in the return leg.
In the first-leg of UEFA Europa league quarter-final, AZ Alkmaar cruised to a hard fought 2-1 win over Valencia at AFAS Stadion on Thursday, March 29.
The match started in a lively manner with the visiting side dominating proceedings at AFAS Stadion. In the eighth minute, Los Che came close to breaking the deadlock when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roberto-Soldado-c31367 met Sofiane Feghouli’s cross inside the box. However, the AZ goalkeeper,
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Esteban-Alvarado-c12908, showed brilliant reflexes to deny his deft touch.
Moments later, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Niklas-Moisander-c27919, much to the relief of the AZ head coach, Gertjan Verbeek.
Los Che continued to dominate proceedings, though they failed to find the back of the net, as Alvarado showed his class between the sticks by making brilliant saves.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Brett-Holman-c8047, against the run of play.
Maarten Martens’ corner found Holman unmarked at the far post, and the Australian ace made no mistake in volleying the ball into the back of the net.
After the half-time break, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-c40863 mounted immense pressure on the home side’s back-line, and managed to restore parity in the 51st minute. Mehmet Topal met Antonio Barragan’s long ball inside the penalty area with a perfect header that found
the bottom left corner of the net, giving no chance whatsoever to the diving Alvarado.
However, the AZ goalkeeper did well to keep his side’s hopes alive with some phenomenal saves to deny Los Che from taking the lead.
Soldado’s effort was tipped over the cross bar by Alvarado moments before Jeremy Mathieu wasted a perfect goalscoring opportunity.
AZ took full advantage of the visitors’ missed opportunities by restoring their one goal lead through Martens. Holman and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Simon-Poulsen-c33562 played a neat one-two before the latter played a nice through ball to the Australian ace on the left flank.
The 28-year-old raced inside the box before passing the ball back for Martens, who coolly placed his powered effort into the back of the net.
Five minutes before the full time whistle, Adam Maher tried his luck from range, but his low effort went inches wide of the target and the match ended in a 2-1 win in the favour of AZ.
The two sides will meet in the return leg at Estadio Mestalla on Thursday, April 5.
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