AZ grabs last Dutch ticket for European football | Football

Thanks to the big win, AZ has fully fulfilled the favorite role in the play-offs. The Alkmaarders finished fifth in the regular competition with a ten point lead over number six Vitesse. It is certainly not a rule of law that the high-ranking club also takes the play-off ticket – of the twenty previous times this was only the case six times – but AZ was ultimately a size too big for the competition.

Last Thursday, AZ had already been the dominant party in large parts of the match, but lacked sharpness at decisive moments, both in playing the chances and in defensive terms.

flying start

In that respect, AZ got off to a flying start in its own AFAS Stadium. Already in the third minute the ball was in the net behind Vitesse goalkeeper Jeroen Houwen and the deficit incurred in Arnhem had been eliminated. Jordy Clasie was released very cleverly and his good cross was watched in the goal by Vangelis Pavlidis, his 25th goal in fifty games for AZ this season.

In the absence of Eli Dasa, still in Israel reminiscing about his wedding, Romaric Yapi played again as right back at Vitesse. The Frenchman with Ivorian roots was again a weak spot in the Arnhem defence, but with a header that hit the crossbar, Yapi almost signed for the equalizer. Compared to the game in Arnhem, Letsch had this time made way for Enzo Cornelisse and Toni Domgjoni started on the bench. Fredrik Midtjsö was not available for AZ. He was replaced by Tijjani Reijnders.

tapped away

Immediately after Yapi’s header on the crossbar it was 2-0. Reijnders was given plenty of time and space to moor and surprised Vitesse goalkeeper Jeroen Houwen with a mop shot. AZ was lord and master and had plenty of opportunities to finish. Houwen was able to save on goals from Pavlidis and Reijnders (twice). The home team was unlucky that referee Bas Nijhuis failed to apply the advantage rule, when

Just before the break, Vitesse was completely tapped away. After a nice attack via Hakon Evjen and the emerging left back Milos Kerkez, Dani de Wit was able to cheer the 3-0 into the goal.

force

Vitesse coach Thomas Letsch tried to force something in the break with a triple substitution. Daan Huisman, Nicolai Baden Frederiksen and Domgjoni came in ahead of Yapi, Cornelisse and Patrick Vroegh. Vitesse had a good phase with dangerous shots from Riechedly Bazoer and Thomas Buitink, but AZ would soon close the game for good.

Where Nijhuis previously failed to apply the advantage rule in favor of AZ, he did so shortly after the break, nota bene for a violation near the Alkmaar penalty area. This gave the home team the opportunity to counter quickly. Reijnders was the end point of the streamlined breakout and benefited from Houwen’s unconvincing exit.

Jesper Karlsson has scored.

Ⓒ ANP/HH

Sour goodbye to a beautiful era

With that, the battle was decided and AZ could easily finish the game, while the Vitesse supporters who had traveled with them killed the time with songs full of gallows humor. The poison cup was not yet empty for the Letsch team. Jesper Karlsson beautifully curled a free kick into the Arnhem goal (5-0). In the final phase, Riechedly Bazoer did something in return for Vitesse by also scoring from a free kick (5-1). The final chord was for AZ via Jesper Karlsson (6-1).

For Vitesse, the monster defeat seems to be a bitter farewell to a beautiful era. Under Letsch, the Arnhem team forced European football last season and the cup final was reached. This season, Vitesse impressed in the Conference League, in which the Arnhem team were surprisingly only stopped by the later winner AS Roma in the quarterfinals. A new European adventure is not in it. In view of the position of Dutch football in Europe, it may also be better that AZ enters the preliminary rounds of the Conference League, because the uncertainties are great at Vitesse due to the sale of the club by owner Valeriy Oyf, so that Letsch has to wait and see. which replacements the club can attract for the large number of departures.

Captain Doekhi wished himself another goodbye at Vitesse

Danilho Doekhi had wished himself another goodbye at Vitesse. The captain failed to secure a European ticket with his team. AZ was much too strong (6-1) in the return of the final of the play-offs, after Vitesse had won the first game 2-1 in Arnhem on Thursday.

“We are outclassed,” said Doekhi in front of the camera of ESPN† “At halftime we are already 3-0 down. That’s not how you start a match. I had four very nice years at Vitesse. I have fond memories of this club. This season we have done well, especially in Europe.”

Vitesse overwintered in the Conference League, but was then eliminated in the eighth finals by the later winner AS Roma. The 23-year-old Doekhi faces a new adventure. He continues his career with the German club 1. FC Union Berlin, the number 5 of the Bundesliga last season. “But I would have liked to say goodbye with a European ticket,” said the central defender.