Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 163: KNVB Beker Round 2

Chapter 163: KNVB Beker Round 2

The home crowd was in full voice as the match kicked off under the evening lights. AZ Alkmaar, buoyed by their recent form, wasted no time asserting their dominance.

Gertjan Verbeek had done a major rotation of the starting lineup to rest the key players and give some fringe players an opportunity.

The stadium lights beamed down onto the pitch as the players lined up, the anticipation thick in the air. The commentators took over, their voices steady yet filled with energy as they introduced the lineups.

[Welcome to the AFAS Stadion, where AZ Alkmaar takes on SC Veendam in the second round of the KNVB Beker. A cool evening here in Alkmaar, but things are about to heat up on the pitch. Let’s take a look at the starting lineups.]

The screen cut to AZ Alkmaar’s formation, the names appearing on the graphic as the commentator ran through the squad.

[Yves De Winter gets the nod in goal tonight. A rare start for him, with Esteban Alvarado given a rest. In defense, Jonas Heymans starts at left-back, Mattias Johansson on the right, with Thomas Lam and Giliano Wijnaldum forming the central partnership.]

[A young and relatively inexperienced backline,] his co-commentator added. [Lam and Wijnaldum have shown promise, but Veendam might look to exploit that inexperience tonight.]

[In midfield, we have Thom Haye, Adam Maher, and Willie Overtoom. Maher, of course, is the heartbeat of this team, pulling the strings from the center of the park. Overtoom brings that creativity, while Haye provides balance.]

[A strong midfield trio,] the other commentator noted. [Maher’s vision is going to be key tonight, especially if AZ dominates possession as we expect them to.]

[Up front, Roy Beerens and Jóhann Guðmundsson start on the wings, with Aron Jóhannsson leading the line. Jóhannsson has been in fine form, and he’ll be looking to add to his goal tally here tonight.]

[A lot of pace and movement in that front three,] his partner added. [Guðmundsson is so dangerous when he cuts inside, and Beerens has the ability to stretch the play. Jóhannsson? A poacher, always in the right place at the right time.]

[On the bench for AZ Alkmaar: Esteban Alvarado, Donny Gorter, Dirk Marcellis, Etienne Reijnen, Robert Klaasen, Ali Messaoud, Fernando Lewis, Steven Berghuis, and Benjamin Rijkaard.]

[A strong bench,] the co-commentator said. [Berghuis and Rijkaard in particular—two game-changers who can come on if needed.]

The graphic then switched to SC Veendam’s lineup. The lower-tier side had a challenge ahead, and the commentators acknowledged it.

[SC Veendam lining up in a 4-3-3 as well. Between the sticks, we have Leonard Nienhuis. A solid shot-stopper in the Eerste Divisie who will need to be at his best tonight against this AZ Alkmaar attack]

[Defense consists of Ali Boussaboun, Freerk Mulder, Jan Korthuis, and Kelvin Maynard. A disciplined back four, but they’ll be tested tonight, especially with Beerens and Guðmundsson running at them]

[Midfield sees Jeroen Ketting, Michael de Leeuw, and Danny Menting holding things together. They’ll have a lot of work to do against Maher and Overtoom, who are excellent at finding pockets of space]

[And up front, the attacking trio of Rogier Krohne, Marnix Kolder, and Alexander Bannink. Not the flashiest names, but they work hard, and if SC Veendam can catch AZ Alkmaar on the break, this is where it’ll come from]

[It’s a tough task for them, no doubt. But cup football has a way of surprising us. They’ll be looking to frustrate AZ Alkmaar, stay compact, and hit on the counter]

[The teams are lined up. The atmosphere is set. The referee checks his watch... and we’re about to get underway here at the AFAS Stadion]

Fweeeee!~

The referee blew his whistle and the game began with SC Veendam kicking off.

AZ Alkmaar wasted no time pressing high, their intensity evident from the first few passes.

The ball was quickly worked down the right flank, where Guðmundsson took his first touch, immediately drawing a challenge.

[And AZ Alkmaar pressing early,] the first commentator noted. [No surprises there. They’ll want to set the tempo from the start]

[That’s what you expect from a Gertjan Verbeek team,] his co-commentator replied. [Relentless pressure, fast transitions. SC Veendam will have to be smart with possession, or they’ll spend most of this match chasing shadows and counting concessions]

The visitors tried to play their way forward, but the difference in technical quality was already showing.

Overtoom intercepted a loose pass in midfield and quickly found Adam, who wasted no time threading a pass into space for Jóhannsson.

[Here comes Adam... oh, what a ball that is!]

Jóhannsson latched onto it, his first touch sharp as he cut inside the 18 yard box. The defender scrambled back, but the forward had already made up his mind. He let fly with his left foot—

Thud!

A crucial block from Korthuis sent the ball spinning out for a corner. The home crowd groaned, but they quickly burst into applause at the promising attack.

[That was close! Adam’s vision on full display there]

[And that’s exactly what SC Veendam can’t afford,] the co-commentator added. [Adam had way too much time to pick his pass. If he keeps getting that space, it’s only a matter of time before AZ Alkmaar finds the breakthrough]

Overtoom jogged over to take the corner, raising his hand before swinging the ball in with pace. The cross curled dangerously toward the near post—

Thump!

Wijnaldum rose highest, meeting the ball with a firm header. It looked destined for the back of the net, but Nienhuis reacted brilliantly, diving low to palm it away.

The rebound fell to Haye, who tried to smash it in, but a sea of yellow shirts crowded him out before he could pull the trigger.

[Big save from Nienhuis! He keeps SC Veendam level]

[And he’ll have to make a few more if they want to stay in this game,] the co-commentator added. [AZ Alkmaar knocking on the door already in the early minutes of the game]

The early pressure was relentless. Every time SC Veendam tried to settle, AZ Alkmaar swarmed them, cutting off passing lanes and forcing hurried clearances.

It was only the 5th minute, but the match was already shaping up to be a long one for the underdogs.