Weakened AZ back to winning

Saturday 21 February 2009

After the 2-2 draw in Eindhoven last week AZ Alkmaar went back to what they are so good at this season: winning.

Two goals of Holland's top scorer Mounir El Hamdaoui were enough to see off Heracles Almelo.

Coach Louis van Gaal had had to make some changes in his lineup due the absent defenders Niklas Moisander, Hector Moreno and Sebastien Pocognoli.

On top center back Kew Jaliens and midfielder Stijn Schaars were out suspended.

Van Gaal played Danish midfielder Simon Poulsen at left back, forward Moussa Dembélé was used in midfield and Brazilian forward Ari came off the bench.

Half an hour into the game there was the next spell of bad luck for Van Gaal as reserve captain David Mendes da Silva pulled a hamstring and had to come off.

The many changes didn't do AZ any good.

Heracles felt their opponents were wounded and try to deliver a first blow.

And they came mighty close to opening the score just before half-time, but striker Vojtech Schulmeister aimed straight into the hands of Sergio Romero.

Van Gaal used the half-time break to make some final changes and they paid of.

After 53 minutes Dembélé started a run down the right wing and found Ari in the box.

His flick to El Hamdaoui was enough for the Moroccan to score his 19th of the season.

The Alkmaarders then went on to control the game and shortly after Graziano Pellé missed an absolute sitter El Hamdaoui decided matters with his second of the evening and his 20th of the season.

Score

Goals

Cards

Lineups