AZ convincingly reached the eighth finals of the TOTO KNVB Cup on Wednesday evening. The Alkmaarders did not have much to fear from Excelsior in Rotterdam: 1-4.
Despite a promising start from Excelsior, AZ took the lead after thirteen minutes in the Van Donge & De Roo Stadium. Jens Odgaard left goalkeeper Norbert Alblas without a chance with a devastating shot and scored his ninth goal this season.
Reda Kharchouch took care of the equalizer after half an hour after AZ keeper Hobie Verhulst had not properly controlled a long shot. The home team couldn’t enjoy that for a very long time: Dani de Wit worked in the 35th minute after fumbling in the back at Excelsior.
Jesper Karlsson made it 1-3 four minutes later. The Swede got the ball on the left side of Jordy Clasie and worked in flawlessly. After the break, Excelsior was unable to bring back the tension in the pouring rain. Vangelis Pavlidis even took care of the fourth Alkmaar goal ten minutes before the end with a shrewd ball.
With the generous victory over Excelsior, AZ took revenge for last Saturday’s disappointing 1-1 draw against low-flyer Vitesse. With a win over the team from Arnhem, the Alkmaarders had closed the fifteenth round in the Eredivisie in second instead of fifth place.
AZ played the first cup match of the season against Excelsior. Due to European obligations – just like Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord and FC Twente – the team of trainer Pascal Jansen only had to start in the second round. AZ hopes to win the KNVB Cup for the fifth time, after previous success in 1978, 1981, 1982 and 2013.
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