Football-Oranje - AZ Alkmaar started 2017 with a 3-1 victory over Go Ahead Eagles in Deventer.
The home side, who sit bottom of the Eredivisie, have been busy this winter adding fresh faces to their squad, with new loan signings Elvis Manu and Pedro Chirivella starting against AZ, while Daniel Crowley was on the bench.
Manu made an impact early in the game and came close to giving the hosts the lead after only two minutes with a fierce strike into the side netting. AZ then came into the game and missed two great chances to score before the break, with Ben Rienstra firing over from close range, while Maumer Tankovic nodded straight at Theo Zwarthoed.
AZ took control after half time and eventually took the lead on 69 minutes as Alireza Jahanbakhsh poked the ball through for Wout Weghorst, who was all alone in the box to pick his spot past Zwarthoed. Six minutes later it was 2-0 with Jahanbakhsh finding the net with a wonderful strike from 25 yards.
In the 89th minute Matthias Johansson gifted Go Ahead Eagles a lifeline with a push in the box which led to a penalty. Jarchinio Antonia made no mistake from the spot to make it 2-1. However, any chance of a comeback was then ended soon after when Dabney Dos Santos went down in the box earning AZ a spot kick, which Jahanbakhsh dispatched.
The victory puts AZ fourth in the league, while Go Ahead Eagles remain bottom with twelve points.
MATCH STATISTICS:
Go Ahead Eagles – AZ 1-3 (0-0)
Lineup Go Ahead Eagles: Theo Zwarthoed; Sébastien Locigno, Xandro Schenk, Sander Fischer, Rochdi Achenteh; Sander Duits, Pedro Chirivella, Marcel Ritzmaier (76. Daniel Crowley); Jarchinio Antonia, Leon de Kogel (66. Darren Maatsen), Elvis Manu (79. Randy Wolters).
Lineup AZ: Sergio Rochet; Mattias Johansson, Derrick Luckassen, Stijn Wuytens; Ridgeciano Haps, Mats Seuntjens, Robert Mühren (62. Iliass Bel Hassani), Ben Rienstra; Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Wout Weghorst (87. Fred Friday), Muamer Tankovic (63. Dabney dos Santos).
Goals: 69. Weghorst 0-1, 85. Jahanbakhsh 0-2, 89. Antonia (pen.) 1-2, 90+2. Jahanbakhsh (pen.) 1-3.
Bookings: Weghorst, Johansson, Jahanbakhsh, Bel Hassani (AZ), Achenteh (Go Ahead Eagles).
Sent-offs: -
Referee: Danny Makkelie
Attendance: 9.518