NOS Football•
With some luck, AZ qualified for the semi-finals of the KNVB Cup by narrowly beating FC Twente: 2-1. Striker Troy Parrott’s winning goal came in extra time, after the match had ended 1-1 in regular time.
FC Twente was better for a large part of the match and fired twice more shots (36 to 18) than AZ, but, as has often been the case this season, was not efficient enough.
It is the third time in five years that AZ is in the last four in the cup tournament. Last year the four-time cup winner lost the final to Go Ahead Eagles.
AZ’s first dangerous attack was an immediate hit. From a high pass from Kasper Boogaard, striker Troy Parrott deftly headed it. Matej Sín was able to finish freely in front of the goal and did so via the inside of the post: 1-0.
The match was by no means ignited by the early opening goal. AZ did not push through and the better footballing Twente was not sharp enough offensively to make it difficult for Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro. The young goalkeeper was allowed to start in the cup match, despite the fact that he has lost his starting place in the Premier League.
There were certainly opportunities for the visitors. But Ramiz Zerrouki, Sam Lammers and Kristian Hlynsson, among others, handled it too carelessly. The unfit club top scorer Ricky van Wolfswinkel was sorely missed.
Shortly after halftime, Mats Rots thought he could level the score. However, the very active left back was whistled back for offside. Fortunately for Twente, Ibraim Sadiq didn’t hit the ball well moments later when he had the 2-0 on his shoe.
Equalizer Hlynsson
After Twente goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall had saved Sadiq’s next effort, Twente still leveled. Sondre Ørjaaeter cleverly turned away from Wouter Goes and sent a cross from the left to Hlynsson’s head with great feeling: 1-1.
AZ pressed on in the final phase of regular playing time, but could no longer prevent extra time.
Substitute Jizz Hornkamp tried from far away at the start of extra time. His shot from the halfway line seemed to be heading for the intersection, but Twente keeper Unnerstall breathed a sigh of relief when the ball disappeared just outside his goal.
Unnerstall then had no chance at 2-1. Via the back of Hornkamp, the ball ended up at the feet of Parrott, who selected the angle and put AZ back in the lead.
Twente continues to miss
Chances of another equalizer were not for Twente. Marco Pjaca bumped into the AZ goalkeeper, Daouda Weidmann found the side netting and in the final phase it looked like a pinball machine in front of the AZ goal, but the ball did not go in. The Tukkers can blame themselves that it is not them, but AZ that will be drawn on Friday for the draw for the next round.
The semi-finals will be played on March 3, 4 or 5.
