AZ win but end clean sheet series

Saturday 07 February 2009

Although the winning streak AZ seems never-ending goal keeper saw his shut out record attempt come to a halt yesterday when Saïd Boutahar scored for Willem II Tilburg in the 18th minute.

Boutahar joins a 'small elite' in the Eredivisie as he was only the second player able to score in Alkmaar against AZ this season.

Matthew Amoah scored two in the DSB Stadium on the first day of the season and since AZ have kept a clean sheet in thirteen home games (Cup and league combined).

Goal keeper Romero's league record for clean sheets ended at 958 minutes.

The fans of Alkmaar seemed affected by the conceded goal, but the players on the pitch seemed unfazed.

Seven minutes after Boutahar's goal AZ had leveled the two teams and before the break Louis van Gaal's team were on the side of the score where they generally are: 2-1.

It was perhaps some comfort for Romero for his ended record race that he was at the start of the attack that led to the second goal.

He plucked the ball from the air after a corner, found El Hamdaoui with a long drop kick and then saw how AZ's and Holland's top scorer put the ball on a plate for Maarten Martens.

In the second half AZ then found back to the frivolous play of the first half of the season and at times made fun of the visitors from Tilburg.

One of the text book attacks resulted in El Hamdaoui's 18th of the season: 3-1.

Score

Goals

Cards

Lineups