NOS Football•
AZ failed to qualify directly for the eighth finals of the Conference League. The Alkmaarders were stuck at 0-0 at home against the Polish Jagiellonia Bialystok, which played 35 minutes with ten men.
With ten points from six matches and fourteenth place, AZ can prepare for the play-offs, an intermediate round in which the remaining eight places for the last sixteen are divided.
A win was required for a place in the top eight. Prior to this last round of the competition phase, the Alkmaarders occupied thirteenth place, but the differences were small.
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De stand in de Conference League -
De stand in de Conference League
As a result, AZ was still in the race for a place in the first eight and a direct ticket to the eighth finals. Opponent Jagiellonia Bialystok also had a chance with eight points in eighteenth place.
Same elf
Sven Mijnans had the best opportunities in the first half, but the captain failed to capitalize on any of those opportunities. In injury time of the first half it was a bit of a shock for the home team.
Due to an alleged handball by Alexandre Penetra, the VAR referee called Stefan Ebner to the side, but even after seeing the images, the referee did not think it was a penalty.
Rood Pululu
So it remained goalless in Alkmaar and even after the break no goals were scored. The visitors became more difficult from the 64th minute onwards due to a red card for Afimico Pululu, who had stepped on the heel of Wouter Goes.
AZ’s pressure increased, Mees de Wit’s shot was stopped, but it was not convincing. The score remained 0-0, marking the first draw for Martens’ team, after three wins and two defeats.
Draw on January 16
Numbers 9 to 24 of the Conference League continue in the play-offs. The draw for that interim round will be on January 16 next year. The matches will be played on February 19 and 26.
French side Strasbourg finished the competition phase of the Conference League as number one with five wins and one draw. Dutch international Emmanuel Emegha only played two matches due to injuries.
