AZ Alkmaar 1-0 FC Twente: That noise? Oh that’s just Ajax’s Title Stampede

FC Twente’s hopes of a first ever league title took a potentially huge blow at the AZ Stadion this evening as outgoing champions AZ Alkmaar narrowly won a closely fought encounter 1-0.

The end may be nigh for AZ Alkmaar’s reign as kings of Holland but this victory, secured by way of a Peter Wisgerhof own-goal in the 7th minute, could well determine their old crown’s next destination. Defeat for Twente still sees them 4 points ahead of Ajax with 2 games to go, but Ajax have a game in hand. And they are absolutely flying at the moment having won 13 of their last 15 matches, the most recent a 7-0 thumping of VVV Venlo.

The looks on the FC Twente players’ faces at the final whistle told of a big opportunity lost in the race for the club’s first ever Eredivisie title. Steve McClaren was fuming about what he considered a clear penalty turned down in the 56th minute after AZ’s Simon Poulsen appeared to handle a Blaise Nkufo header in the box. “He did everything but grab onto it,” McClaren fumed after the game. It looked blatant.

Despite this, the former England manager also accepted his team’s failings in a game which – if won – would have left the Tukkers with one hand on the trophy. “We didn’t deserve anything in the first half. If we play how we did in that first half again we won’t win another game this season,” stated the Twente boss angrily.

For a team just 3 results away from a historic league championship, Twente’s approach to the game was questionable. Despite 62% possession in the opening 15 minutes of the 1st half, Twente played with a tempo that was far too slow and relaxed for a game of such magnitude.

Pace and urgency in their game was distinctly lacking even after going a goal down, and although the team improved slightly in the 2nd half, McClaren’s side lacked the intensity and purpose of would-be champions.

AZ Alkmaar, for their part, merely sat back and defended deep, soaking up Twente’s possession and looking to break with Mounir El-Hamdaoui, Moussa Dembele and Jeremain Lens on the counter. Several counter attacks started with El-Hamdaoui down the left hand side, but it was Dembele and Lens in particular who impressed, Lens tearing down the right on numerous occasions and coming off to a standing ovation when he was substituted late on.

AZ’s goal came from a break down the left. Wisgerhof and El-Hamdaoui challenged for a low cross from the left and, somehow, Wisgerhof managed to flick it through his own keeper and into the net. Had a striker performed such skill we would be lauding their ingenuity. As it was the Dutch defender was just unfortunate.

Miroslav Stoch carried the main attacking threat for Twente in the early stages, causing AZ’s Belgian defender Gil Swerts all sorts of problems. Both Stoch and right back Ronnie Stam offered countless dangerous deliveries into the box. Unfortunately for Twente however, both Bryan Ruiz and Nkufo had silent nights upfront – Nkufo in particular missing a glorious opportunity with a free header in the 31st minute.

Twente’s defensive lapses in the 1st half kept pushing the team deeper and deeper as Douglas and Wisgerhof continually lost possession inside their own half. Fortunately for the haphazard pair though, El-Hamdaoui declined to punish them.

In the second half the visitors improved. AZ continued to sit deep and rely on a lively Dembele, but Stoch and Stam remained potent weapons for Twente. The disputed penalty incident came just before the hour: Stoch beat Swerts and crossed for Nkufo, but his header brushed Poulsen’s arm and drifted away. What the Danish defender was doing with his arms so high is anyone’s guess. He was lucky to get away with it.

Twente’s midfield ceded possession more and more often as the 2nd half wore on, with Cheick Tiote’s grip on the midfield loosening and Kenneth Perez and Luuk De Jong largely anonymous. The gaping hole in Twente’s midfield which allowed AZ’s Lens a great chance on the counter in the 68th minute should have been punished with a better finish.

In the end FC Twente did little to increase their tempo to a high enough level in the 2nd half, and the suspicious 5 minutes stoppage time yielded little other than a petty goalmouth scrap for which 2 players were booked.

“Our front 4 must play a lot better,” Steve McClaren commented after the match on a toothless Twente forward display. With 20 goals in their last 5 games, Ajax are having no such trouble. And next they play Willem II, second bottom in the table.

Twente’s remaining games are against Feyenoord (h) and NAC Breda away. This was only their 2nd league defeat all season.

Was this loss the turning point that swung the championship pendulum Martin Jol and Ajax’s way?

We’ll soon find out. Personally I suspect so. FC Twente are wobbling.

AZ Alkmaar, Dutch Eredivisie, Dutch Football, FC Twente, Holland, Mounir El Hamdaoui, Steve McLaren