“Mexx Meerdink opens the scoring with a left-footed finish from the centre of the box after AZ won a free kick in the attacking half.”
Pivotal“Telstar make a double substitution at the break, bringing on Rojendro Oudsten and Kees Smit in a bid to freshen up their attack.”
“Wouter Goes picks up a late yellow card for a foul as AZ see out the closing stages of a match they controlled throughout.”
AZ Alkmaar
Telstar
Outstanding performance
Telstar•GoalkeeperAZ Alkmaar controlled this match from the first whistle, racking up 17 shots to Telstar's four and dominating territory with 62% possession, but ultimately needed just the one goal to see it through. Mexx Meerdink's 19th-minute finish from the centre of the box, following a Dave Kwakman-won free kick, proved decisive and set the tone for a match AZ dominance number (75 to 38) fully reflected. Telstar's goalkeeper was forced into seven saves as the visitors sat deep and absorbed pressure, limiting the damage despite being second-best in almost every metric including tackles, corners, and big chances created. For AZ, the win keeps them firmly in the title conversation given the pre-match context of a tight title race, while Telstar's toothless attacking display - just one shot on target all match - underlines the defensive rebuilding job still ahead of them this season.
How entertaining was this match?
Rojendro Oudsten (Telstar) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Weslley Patati (AZ).
Attempt blocked. Kees Smit (AZ) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ayoub Oufkir.
Attempt blocked. Jizz Hornkamp (AZ) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kees Smit.
Attempt missed. Kees Smit (AZ) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Jizz Hornkamp.
Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
Substitution, AZ. Seiya Maikuma replaces Elijah Dijkstra.
Foul by Weslley Patati (AZ).
Abdelnour Soualhia (Telstar) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Wouter Goes (AZ).
Wouter GoesYellow CardWouter Goes (AZ) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Rojendro Oudsten (Telstar) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Telstar. Marvin Peersman is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Weslley Patati (AZ) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Attempt blocked. Abdelnour Soualhia (Telstar) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Corner, Telstar. Conceded by Elijah Dijkstra.
Offside, Telstar. Prince Aning is caught offside.
Foul by Emirhan Demircan (Telstar).
Dave Kwakman (AZ) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Telstar. Prince Aning replaces Rui Mendes.
Attempt missed. Mateo Chávez (AZ) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Ayoub Oufkir with a cross following a corner.
Corner, AZ. Conceded by Abdelnour Soualhia.
Corner, AZ. Conceded by Ar'Jany Martha.
Emirhan Demircan (Telstar) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Peer Koopmeiners (AZ).
Attempt missed. Kees Smit (AZ) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right.
Delay in match because of an injury Dave Kwakman (AZ).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Attempt saved. Mateo Chávez (AZ) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Ronald Koeman (Telstar).
Attempt saved. Kees Smit (AZ) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner by Ronald Koeman (Telstar). Assisted by Ayoub Oufkir.
Foul by Ar'Jany Martha (Telstar).
Ayoub Oufkir (AZ) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt blocked. Weslley Patati (AZ) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jizz Hornkamp.
Substitution, Telstar. Ar'Jany Martha replaces Jelani Seedorf.
Attempt missed. Lewis Schouten (AZ) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Wouter Goes with a headed pass following a corner.
Corner, AZ. Conceded by Emirhan Demircan.
Attempt saved. Ayoub Oufkir (AZ) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Ronald Koeman (Telstar). Assisted by Peer Koopmeiners.
Substitution, AZ. Jizz Hornkamp replaces Mexx Meerdink.
Substitution, AZ. Ayoub Oufkir replaces Ro-Zangelo Daal.
Substitution, AZ. Weslley Patati replaces Calvin Stengs.
Rojendro Oudsten (Telstar) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Mateo Chávez (AZ).
Patrick Brouwer (Telstar) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Wouter Goes (AZ).
Foul by Sem Valk (Telstar).
Attempt missed. Ro-Zangelo Daal (AZ) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Kees Smit.
Ro-Zangelo Daal (AZ) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Telstar. Emirhan Demircan replaces Jeff Hardeveld.
Attempt blocked. Kees Smit (AZ) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Calvin Stengs.
Foul by Jeff Hardeveld (Telstar).
Wouter Goes (AZ) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Ro-Zangelo Daal (AZ) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Ronald Koeman (Telstar). Assisted by Mexx Meerdink.
Corner, AZ. Conceded by Ronald Koeman.
VAR Checking: AZ Goal (Kees Smit).
Attempt blocked. Mexx Meerdink (AZ) right footed shot from very close range is blocked.
Handball by Mexx Meerdink (AZ).
Goal! AZ 2, Telstar 0. Kees Smit (AZ) right footed shot from very close range.
Foul by Mexx Meerdink (AZ).
Abdelnour Soualhia (Telstar) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Offside, Telstar. Jelani Seedorf is caught offside.
Sem Valk (Telstar) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ro-Zangelo Daal (AZ).
Foul by Mexx Meerdink (AZ).
Abdelnour Soualhia (Telstar) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Telstar. Rojendro Oudsten replaces Gerald Alders.
Jelani Seedorf (Telstar) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Lewis Schouten (AZ).
Second Half begins AZ 1, Telstar 0.
Substitution, AZ. Kees Smit replaces Valdemar Byskov.
First Half ends, AZ 1, Telstar 0.
Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
Foul by Abdelnour Soualhia (Telstar).
Mexx Meerdink (AZ) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match (AZ).
Wouter Goes (AZ) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Gerald AldersYellow CardGerald Alders (Telstar) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Gerald Alders (Telstar).
Jelani Seedorf (Telstar) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Lewis Schouten (AZ).
Attempt missed. Calvin Stengs (AZ) left footed shot from outside the box.
Foul by Nils Rossen (Telstar).
Valdemar Byskov (AZ) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Marvin Peersman (Telstar) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Calvin Stengs (AZ).
Delay in match (AZ).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Attempt missed. Sem Valk (Telstar) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Abdelnour Soualhia with a cross.
Attempt saved. Valdemar Byskov (AZ) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Attempt saved. Rui Mendes (Telstar) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Jari De Busser (AZ).
Corner, Telstar. Conceded by Jari De Busser.
Marvin Peersman (Telstar) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Calvin Stengs (AZ).
Foul by Patrick Brouwer (Telstar).
Dave Kwakman (AZ) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
assist: Valdemar Byskov
Goal! AZ 1, Telstar 0. Mexx Meerdink (AZ) left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Foul by Patrick Brouwer (Telstar).
Dave Kwakman (AZ) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Delay in match (AZ).
Foul by Rui Mendes (Telstar).
Valdemar Byskov (AZ) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Abdelnour Soualhia (Telstar).
Mexx Meerdink (AZ) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Offside, Telstar. Rui Mendes is caught offside.
Foul by Mateo Chávez (AZ).
Gerald Alders (Telstar) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Gerald Alders (Telstar).
Ro-Zangelo Daal (AZ) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
First Half begins.
