N.E.C. Nijmegen’s unbeaten start to the Eredivisie campaign came to an end as they were up-ended 4-0 by host AZ at AFAS Stadion.

Coming off the impressive victory over Excelsior, N.E.C. manager Alex Pastoor made two changes to his starting eleven with Rens van Eijden and Rémy Amieux entering for Ramon Zomer and John Goossens. The early stages were tight with N.E.C. squeezing a glimmer of a chance at the eighth minute when Ryan Koolwijk’s long probing pass down the left channel was raced onto by Melvin Platje but his effort from a tight angle went into the side netting. In AZ’s first notable advance, coming five minutes shy of the half-hour, Jozy Altidore’s header of a right-wing cross was met handily by N.E.C. ‘keeper Jasper Cillessen and without further incident both sides went to their respective change-rooms with the deadlock intact.

At the re-start, AZ manager Gertjan Verbeek summoned Roy Beerens into the affair for Charlison Benshop and it was not long until the hosts found the needed touch. At the fifty-fourth minutes Jozy Altidore continued to raise his stock since joining AZ as he nodded Rasmus Elm’s corner from the right, only to see ball cleared off the line by Ryan Koolwijk with the new man heading the rebound into the net. The goal ignited AZ and eight minutes later the doors came off the hinges when Maarten Martens raced into the left side area with Pavel Čmovš bringing him down and receiving a straight red-card and penalty for the infraction. In the ensuing effort Rasmus Elm powered the ball into the centre of the net, effectively with the contest fait accompli thereafter. With seventeen minutes remaining in regulation Adam Maher slid the ball through to Joey Altidoe in alone on the ‘keeper to finish for his second of the day. Traffic was one-way now and at the eighty-fifth minute AZ rounded off the scoring as Rasmus Elm’s free-kick was not cleared sufficiently by the N.E.C. ‘keeper, to which Niklas Moisander poached on the rebound and sent it into the net for the 4-0 result.

Prepared by John Davies
©Europa League News, 2011
All rights reserved

In the opening weekend of the Eredivisie, AZ delighted their supporters with a flourishing 3-1 victory over visiting PSV at Alkamaar’s AFAS Stadion.

With firm eyes on improving upon last years fourth place finish, Gertjan Verbeek’s side took the lead at the twenty-six minute as former PSV man Dirk Marcellis delivered a cross from the right by-line to the back post that Maarten Martens blistered a beautiful volley to the roof of the net. Applying petrol, AZ extended their margin four minute shy of the break as Nick Viergever sent a probing effort from twenty-five metres that ripped through the mitts of PSV ‘keeper Andreas Isaksson and did not stop until nestling in the net. Down by two, PSV quickly stirred with Dries Mertens, in his first league appearance for Fred Rutten’s side with a drive from twelve metres.

Five minutes past the hour, the AZ tactician summoned Jozy Altidore in for Ruud Boymans and it would pay large dividends quickly. Coming with ten minutes remaining in regulation time the mercurial attacker, ex of the New York Red Bulls, nodded in Adam Maher’s cross from the right by-line. Two minutes later Niklas Moisander was sent off with his second yellow-card and after seeing goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado turn aside a late effort, AZ claimed the 2-0 victory.

Prepared by John Davies
©Europa League News, 2011
All rights reserved