Big defeat in Alkmaar after strong first half

From the kickoff Fortuna was dangerous, after barely 80 seconds a cross from the right side by Tijjani Noslin landed on the head of Kaj Sierhuis. However, the latter saw his header disappear just over the crossbar. AZ, the number two in the Eredivisie behind PSV, failed to become dangerous. It was Fortuna that entered the AZ penalty area around the 20th minute, but Iñigo Córdoba and Noslin were unable to find the goal.

In the remainder of the first half, Fortuna kept control of the game and was more threatening, without creating any real chances. In the extra time of the first half, the game was turned upside down. After a deflected attack by the home club, the ball landed at the feet of AZ captain Jordy Clasie. From about 18 meters the midfielder took a devastating shot: 1-0.

Immediately after halftime a new sledgehammer blow for Fortuna. Vangelis Pavlidis, AZ's top scorer, appeared to put the ball into the goal in a clearly offside position. However, it was clear from the footage that Fortunee Oguzhan Özyakup had touched the ball last, so there could be no question of offside: 2-0.

Without playing well, the home club had made the gap. Fortuna was unable to make a real fist of things after the new setback, only substitute Mouhamed Belkheir came close. The Algerian reacted attentively to a long ball from another substitute, Loreintz Rosier. Belkheir's effort, however, disappeared just wide of the goal. In the last ten minutes, the home club further increased the score. Through an own goal by Dimitrios Siovas and a shot by Tiago Dantas from about ten meters, the score increased to 4-0. A deserved, but flattered victory for the home club.

Line-up: Pandur, Pinto, Guth, Siovas, Dijks, Noslin (69’ Lazetic), Özyakup (57’ Rosier), Halilovic (89’ Ferati), Duarte, Córdoba (57’ Belkheir), Sierhuis (70’ Oratmangoe)