The report

The points will be expensive and are needed to participate in the champions' pool after the winter break. Going to AZ is always a tough assignment and now too, especially given the rankings. And afterwards you never know whether you should be satisfied with the one point, relieved that you got that one point or disappointed that you did not win three points.

This already indicates that this match could really go either way. After three minutes a quick breakaway by us leads to a foul in the AZ penalty area and of course it is Jeremy who shoots the penalty in a controlled way. We want to push on and we think we have scored the 0-2 but the referee, or at least his assistant, thinks otherwise and the goal does not go through. More annoying is that AZ immediately sets up an attack from the given free kick and within 15 seconds after the supposed 0-2 it is 1-1.

We get a few more good chances including a free ball in front of the goal but unfortunately we shoot against the only opponent still on the goal line. Still, we are successful before half time and a quick break through Jeremy and Djenario brings the score to 1-2.

After the break the game went back and forth and we had a good chance to score through Joost but AZ also joined in and had some good opportunities. After just over an hour AZ manages to put the 2-2 score on the scoreboard via a shot from outside the box into the crossbar. After some more chances the referee blows the whistle and the final score is settled.

And then you sit in the bus to De Herdgang and the feeling prevails that you have to be satisfied with this point against an opponent like today. Next week away to FC Twente and then we have to bring some more points back to Eindhoven. Have a nice weekend and good luck with the exams in Switzerland.