FC Utrecht and AZ make strong step towards the next qualification round with big wins
FC Utrecht and AZ Alkmaar made big steps towards advancing to the next round of qualification for the UEFA Europa League and Conference League on Thursday night with significant wins in the first leg of their ties. Utrecht picked up an impressive 1-3 win away to Servette while AZ hammered FC Vaduz at home 3-0.
Utrecht had to come from behind to win in Switzerland. Some poor marking from the Utrecht defense gave Servette striker Jeremy Guillemenot a tap-in after 12 minutes.
But a fantastic 10-minute spell resulted in Ron Jans’ side scoring three goals. First, a cross from Yoann Cathline was deflected into the opponent's net by the Servette defender Anthony Baron. Two minutes later, Utrecht took the lead. A fantastic cross from Souffian El Karouani was headed into the goal by Siebe Horemans.
And Utrecht topped off the magnificent 10-minute spell with their third goal in the 62nd minute. Gijval Zechiël took a touch in the box before guiding it into the near corner to make it 1-3, which proved to be the final score.
AZ made a difficult start against the opponent from Liechtenstein. They scored their first goal of the game just after the 28-minute mark. Denso Kasius played a pass across the goal to Troy Parrott, who tapped it home.
It took a while for the home team to get their second. A through ball from Sven Mijnans found Parrott in behind the defense, and the Irish striker smashed the ball into the roof of the net from an acute angle.
And yet Parrott’s terrific finish was not the goal of the night. Substitute Mexx Meerdink rounded off the scoring for the game with an incredible Bergkamp-like finish in the 80th minute. The striker controlled a high ball from the defense with his right foot before lobbing the ball over the Vaduz keeper with his left without letting it touch the ground to make it 3-0.
The second leg of the games will be played next Thursday. If AZ and Utrecht were to advance, they would move on to the next qualifying round.
