AZ 0-1 West Ham: AZ’s European adventure is over. The Alkmaarders had to make up a 2-1 deficit at home against West Ham United, but went down: 0-1.
West Ham reach a European final after 47 years
AZ took the lead last week through a goal from Tijjani Reijnders, but still went down and therefore knew what had to be done at home. Pascal Jansen’s team had Milos Kerkez and Jesper Karlsson back. But had to do without Jens Odgaard, who was missing due to an injury. He was replaced by Myron van Brederode, who replaced Karlsson last week.
Just like last week, AZ opened strongly against the club from the Premier League. Karlsson was close to 1-0 early on. Although he was called back for offside, the Alkmaarders’ intentions were more than clear. The pressure was from AZ, but the biggest chance in the opening phase was from Lucas Paquetá. Who hit the outside of the post after a flashy counter from West Ham. West Ham didn’t get out often, but when they did it was immediately dangerous.
Second half
Shortly after the break, Vangelis Pavlidis was close to 1-0 and Sven Mijnans encountered goalkeeper Alphonse Aréola. AZ pressed and pressed, as it did at the beginning of the first half. Only occasionally was the alarm phase one for the Alkmaarders, but after Mathew Ryan’s save on Declan Rice’s shot, the English were barely dangerous.
It became more and more clear that there was something in it. Pavlidis encountered Aréola, who also had to save a shot from Pantelis Hatziadiakos, but after seventy minutes the score was still 0-0. That is why Jansen brought Dani de Wit for Mijnans, Mayckel Lahdo came for Van Brederode and Mees de Wit and Mexx Meerdink were also brought in.
A place in the final was anything but a bridge too far for AZ, as it became clear on Thursday evening, but because Jansen’s team missed chance after chance, West Ham remained standing. Just before time, the AZ players called for a penalty, because Kurt Zouma would have made a mess of hands, but the referee did not want that. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Pablo Fornals dealt the final blow. The final between West Ham and Fiorentina will be played in Prague on June 7.