SATURDAY 30TH AUGUST
FC DORDRECHT 1 – 3 AZ ALKMAAR
Without head coach Marco van Basten present, AZ Alkmaar bounced back from last weekend’s horrific showing against Willem II to a 3-1 win over FC Dordrecht writes Will Burns.
With Alex Pastoor looking after the team for this game, AZ were ahead early on as Guus Hupperts got on the scoresheet after six minutes of play. The summer signing from Roda JC, saw his effort saved by Polish keeper and former Roda team-mate Filip Kurto, but unfortunately for the new Dordrecht stopper could not stop the ball rebounding off Hupperts and into his net.
AZ found another goal on 22 minutes with another new signing Muamer Tankovic, a freebie from Fulham, scoring the second. Steven Berghuis put the ball on the plate for Tankovic, and the young Swedish striker lobbed a delightful goal over Kurto to double the advantage.
The hosts got themselves back into the game after half-time with an excellent counter move. Joris van Overeem hit a defence-splitting ball through to Mart Lieder who went onto finish in style past debutant Uruguayan goalkeeper Sergio Rochet.
However, AZ grabbed the third and final goal to slam the door shut for Dordrecht just before the hour mark with Tankovic crossing for Steven Berghuis to poke home for yards out.
AZ’s new striker Robert Mühren, this week signing from Eerste Divisie side FC Volendam, was introduced with twenty minutes to go and on his performance, he should have plenty chances created for him.
TEAMS
DORDRECHT: Kurto, Fortes, Haddad, Troost-Ekong (Ten Voorde 72), Peersman, Van Haaren (Van Deelen 46), Gosens, Van Overeem, Korte, Lieder, Pisas (Meulens 72).
SUBS NOT USED: Alisic, Te Loeke, Vet, Hamdaoui.
GOALS: Lieder 53.
BOOKINGS: Gosens 3, Haddad 68.
AZ: Rochet, Luckassen (Elm 85), Gouweleeuw, Wuytens, Poulsen, Gudelj, Haye, Ortiz, Hupperts, Berghuis (Mühren 71), Tankovic (Haps 64).
SUBS NOT USED: De Winter, Johansson, Hoedt, Rosheuvel.
GOALS: Hupperts 6, Tankovic 22, Berghuis 58.
BOOKINGS: Gudelj 53.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Steven Berghuis (AZ)
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