NOS Voetbal•gisteren, 14:10
View the summary of FC Volendam-AZ
FC Volendam has come a little closer to the seemingly inevitable relegation. While competitors Vitesse, RKC and Excelsior took a point on Saturday, the bottom of the league in the Premier League suffered a 0-4 defeat against AZ on their own field a day later.
The deficit of Regillio Simons’ team to number seventeen Vitesse is three points, but more annoying for ‘the other orange’: the gap to the play-off place has grown to eight points with eight rounds still to go.
More goals conceded
Volendam was spared a quick goal, because goalscorer Ruben van Bommel first touched the ball with his arm after a blocked shot by Kristijan Belic, before scoring from close range. The 0-1 came halfway through the first half. Dani de Wit headed in a free kick from Sven Mijnans at the far post.
ANPDeron Payne and Kristijan Belic duel for the ball
And so the Volendam audience knew that their team would remain at one competition match without conceding after this match. In fact, the eighth home defeat in a row – a tightening of the negative club record in professional football – was approaching when a shot by Yukinari Sugawara via Brian Plat disappeared into the short corner: 0-2.
Perfunctory
The perfunctory Volendam offered almost nothing in return, but suddenly regained their spirits after the break. Vivaldo was close to the tying goal with an overhead kick and moments later the 19-year-old Portuguese shot wide. Josh Flint fell just short of his steps to capitalize on a chance after a corner.
ANPAZ-spits Vangelis Pavlidis
AZ looked a little less sharp for a moment and also did little with the space provided in the counter. Until twenty minutes before time. A nice goal by Vangelis Pavlidis was disallowed for offside, but the next attack still scored for the Greek, who scored his 23rd league goal: 0-3.
Suguwara completed the Alkmaar quartet with a striking free kick, giving Volendam at least four goals on its own field for the fourth time in a row. The 19-year-old goalkeeper Mio Backhaus prevented worse by keeping the broken Pavlidis from scoring and the post also helped once.
