AZ Alkmaar impress in 4-1 UEFA Europa League win against Galatasaray
AZ Alkmaar made the perfect start to their UEFA Europa League playoff tie against Galatasaray on Thursday, winning 4-1. Goals from Sven Mijnans, Jordy Clasie, Troy Parrott, and David Moller Wolfe ensured that the Alkmaarders take a three-goal lead to next week’s second leg against the Turkish side.
It is not the first time that this fixture was played this season. These two sides also faced each other in the AFAS Stadium in the league phase of this competition. That match finished 1-1.
The home team took the lead in the 12th minute with a fantastic goal from Sven Mijnans. The young midfielder took a free kick from around 30 yards away from the goal and placed it perfectly into the top corner.
The Alkmaarders were dominating, and Ernest Poku nearly made it 2-0 a few minutes later. The winger was sent through with a long ball. He dribbled past the goalkeeper first before his shot was blocked before it could go in.
This proved costly as Galatasaray equalized four minutes later. Alvaro Morata was too strong for Jordy Clasie in the box, and his pass to Baris Alper Yilmaz was going to go in but for a block by Alexandre Penetra. But the danger was not over as Roland Sallai smashed the next shot hard into the goal to make it 1-1.
Poke’s pace was causing issues for Galatasaray, and he had another chance to score a few minutes later. The 21-year-old got to the ball before the defender, but his lob attempt had too much power and ended up on the top of the goal.
Maarten Martens’ team kept creating chances. Mayckel Lahdo was the next winger to dribble past his man. His effort was kicked off the line before it could go in by Abdulkerim Bardakci.
AZ was awarded a penalty after 35 minutes played. Yilmaz did not see Seiya Maikuma coming in behind him and, therefore, inadvertently took him out. The penalty was a clear one, and it was converted by Troy Parrot to make it 2-1 for AZ going into halftime.
The second half was similar to the first, with AZ dominating. David Moller Wolfe did fantastically well to use his pace to dribble into the Galatasaray third from deep after intercepting the ball. His pass found Parrot, whose shot was blocked. This then led to Lahdo smashing a ball across the box and Poku hitting it high and wide of the goal.
Galatasaray were reduced to ten men in the 51st minute. Kaan Ayhan fouled Lahdo after already having a yellow card from the first half. This resulted in a second booking and a sending-off.
It proved to be a surprisingly easy night for AZ Alkmaar as they made it 3-1 in the 57th minute. Poku finally got the goal contribution his effort had deserved. His pass was good to Jordy Clasie in the box, and the midfielder showed his experience by calmly controlling the ball before placing it into the net.
The goals kept coming for the home side, as it was 4-1 nine minutes later. A cross from Lahdo found Mijnans, and his shot was saved by the Galatasaray goalkeeper and captain Fernando Muslera, but the ball went straight to Moller Wolfe, who tapped it home before checking to see if he was onside. He was, and that was the final goal of the match.
