AZ look the real deal

Monday 10 November 2008

AZ reclaimed their joint top spot yesterday with an impressive 3-0 victory over FC Twente Enschede.

Substitute Ari scored two and top scorer Mounir El Hamdaoui added one to his tally.

AZ laid the foundation for their win in the last minutes of a little entertaining first half when they scored two within four minutes, even though the first big chance was for FC Twente.

Sadly N'Kufo has been in poor shape all season, and he underlined it by missing a free header.

The first goal was scored by AZ's non-scoring striker Ari, who had come on after half an hour to replace that other N.S.S. Pelle.

The Italian striker had a very unfortunate afternoon when first he missed a massive chance to open the score in the fifteenth minute and then had to go off with an ankle injury.

Once carried off he had to witness how his replacement scored within minutes after entering.

El Hamdaoui then doubled the score minutes after with his 13th goal of the season and seemingly decided the game.

FC Twente weren't without chance, but the team of Steve McClaren were relying too much on winger Eljero Elia, as his fellow strikers Blaise N'Kufo and Romano Denneboom were simply not ready for the power of AZ.

Within 15 minutes after the break the home team took any illusions the visitors might have had by scoring a third.

After Ari's header the team of Louis van Gaal left the initiative to Twente, but much to the dismay of McClaren Twente were unable to create much.

The Tukkers still have the top spots of the league within their sights, but with a revived Feyenoord coming to Enschede next week there's a good chance that that will not be the case in seven days time.

AZ in the mean time are starting to look the real deal and seem serious candidates for the title this season.

So far they have shown the best football of all the top contenders no matter how much Van Gaal is trying to tone down expectations.

"If N’Kufo scores in the first half it could have been a totally different game," Van Gaal said.

But he also made his team some compliments: "We played well organised, created a lot of chances and scored some fine goals. I am also very content that we were able to remain a high level with three key players missing," Van Gaal said referring to the injuries of Stijn Schaars, Kew Jaliens and Moussa Dembélé.

"We should be proud of that."