AZ recorded a valuable victory on Sunday afternoon when they visited NEC. The Alkmaarders were too strong with 0-3 and are therefore almost certain of (at least) fourth place in the Eredivisie. NEC remains sixth and Ajax does not have to give up fifth place. The failure of defender Philippe Sandler with a hamstring injury completed the malaise for NEC.
The gap between AZ and Ajax is nine points with three matches to go, while AZ has a much better goal difference. Maarten Martens’ team seems likely to reach at least the Europa League and can still dream of the Champions League preliminary round. Number three FC Twente has a five-point lead over AZ and both clubs will meet next week. In that match, AZ can reduce the gap to two points.
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After the disappointment of the lost cup final, NEC wanted to take an important step towards a direct European ticket. Ajax’s draw against Excelsior (2-2) allowed the Nijmegen team to regain fifth place, but Rogier Meijer’s team had to beat AZ to achieve this. However, the Alkmaarders have not been in great form in recent weeks: after major defeats against Heracles and PSV, the number four won the last match with a minimal difference against RKC Waalwijk. Maarten Martens therefore changed his team in the necessary places, while Bart van Rooij was the only notable absentee for the home team.
Due to hamstring problems, the 22-year-old back sat in the stands, where he saw that NEC started the match enthusiastically. After just ten seconds, Tjaronn Chery was close to the opening goal with a low long-range shot, but Mathew Ryan responded attentively to his attempt. Moments later, however, the Australian goalkeeper was not alert when he picked up a (touched) back pass, causing an indirect free kick. This set piece was botched by NEC and thus illustrated a messy opening phase. AZ had difficulty with the enthusiastic pressure from the home team, while they showed little control of the ball, easily lost balls and got in each other’s way several times.
Philippe Sandler drops out injured
When the Alkmaarders opened the goal, the NEC defense also did not seem well coordinated. After a few short combinations, Mees Hoedemakers unintentionally extended Vangelis Pavlidis’ pass, after which Dani de Wit was able to easily shoot in. With small chances for Ibrahim Sadiq and Ruben van Bommel, the visitors were in a better phase for a while, but due to poor ball tempo they had difficulty surprising the NEC defense. In that defense, injury-prone Philippe Sandler had to drop out after half an hour due to hamstring problems: Matthias Ross was his replacement.
The Danish defender had little to do in the remainder of the first half, as AZ left the initiative to NEC. While the team has scored at least twice in the last five home matches, the Nijmegen team was now unable to make a fist offensively. Due to an apparent lack of pace, creativity and footballing ability, a header from Kodai Sano was the only achievement of the cup finalist. AZ offered very little in return, but did assert itself in physical duels. Kristijan Belic crossed the line several times, and Pavlidis also received a yellow card shortly after the break.
Ten minutes later, however, the striker showed himself in a positive way by curling in the 0-2. In an offside position, he cleverly stepped over Van Bommel’s pass, after which Mees de Wit was just able to keep the ball in. NEC then stopped defending and Hoedemakers pushed the ball into Pavlidis’ feet, after which the Greek scored convincingly. Although Maarten Martens’ team could not convince in terms of football and often had to go backwards, it was the most threatening team. After a clever move by Pavlidis, Mijnans attacked Cillessen’s fists, while a shot from Sadiq was easy prey for him.
The sloppy Nijmegen team meanwhile had possession of the ball, but initially did not get close to the opponent’s goal. In the final phase, Meijer’s team tried to force something, but shots from Hoedemakers and Chery flew just over. On the other side, Ernest Poku managed to expand the margin even further for AZ in the counterattack. Ultimately, in many phases the match looked more like a sub-topper in the third division than a sub-topper in the Eredivisie. AZ was allowed to add the three points, which means that European football is certain and the hope of Champions League football remains alive for a while. NEC needs one more misstep from Ajax to have a chance of finishing fifth.
