Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 234: AZ Alkmaar Vs FC Twente

Chapter 234: AZ Alkmaar Vs FC Twente

Fweeeee!~

The ball rolled back to Viergever, who immediately sprayed a pass out wide to Gorter. AZ Alkmaar wasted no time settling into their rhythm, knocking the ball around with confidence.

[AZ Alkmaar, as expected, looking to dominate possession early,] Erik van Dijk observed. [They’ll want to stretch Twente’s midfield, and force them to chase]

Twente, however, pressed aggressively. Leroy Fer and Denny Landzaat moved quickly to cut off passing lanes, forcing AZ Alkmaar to play backward.

[Good intensity from Twente,] Ronald noted. [They aren’t sitting back; they’re stepping up high, trying to unsettle the home side]

Benjamin dropped deep to receive a pass from Reijnen, turning sharply before flicking a first-time ball toward Martens.

[Lovely touch from Benjamin Rijkaard there,] Erik said with a chuckle. [This young man oozes confidence. He’s got quick feet, great vision—just a joy to watch]

Martens threaded a pass into the final third, but Wisgerhof stepped in, clearing it away before Altidore could pounce.

[That’s solid defending from Twente’s captain,] Ronald praised. [He read that situation well]

A few minutes in, FC Twente found their first real opening. Dušan Tadić received the ball near the right flank, drawing two defenders before slipping a pass inside to Castaignos.

[Danger here! Castaignos is in!] Erik’s voice rose.

Castaignos took a touch and fired from just outside the 18 yard box, but Alvarado reacted quickly, diving to his left to parry the shot away. The AZ Alkmaar crowd let out a collective breath.

[Brilliant save from Alvarado!] Ronald exclaimed. [Twente showing they’re here to fight!]

AZ Alkmaar responded immediately. A quick transition saw Henriksen switch play to Berghuis, who cut inside before laying it off diagonally to Benjamin.

[Here comes AZ Alkmaar!] Erik said, leaning in.

Benjamin turned on the ball, saw space ahead, and drove forward. He took one touch past Brama and another to evade Landzaat before slipping a through ball toward Altidore.

The American striker muscled past Bjelland, took a touch, and let a powerful strike fly—But the ball whistled just wide of the post.

[Oh, that was close!] Ronald groaned. "AZ Alkmaar nearly breaking the deadlock in the opening 5 minutes!]

The crowd applauded the effort, the tension rising as both teams settled into an intense rhythm.

[This is shaping up to be a fantastic contest,] Erik said with a grin. [End-to-end football, two teams going for it. Just how we like it!]

The game restarted and Castaignos tapped the ball back to Brama, who immediately shifted it out wide to Rosales.

AZ Alkmaar pressed high with Berghuis chasing down Rosales, forcing an early clearance.

The ball sailed into midfield, where Martens rose against Fer. The Twente midfielder won the header, nodding it toward Landzaat.

[Twente moving quickly here,] Ronald observed. [They aren’t hesitating to get forward]

Landzaat found Chadli in space on the left. The Belgian winger took a touch before driving inside, skipping past Marcellis with ease.

[That’s a strong start from Chadli!] Erik exclaimed. [AZ Alkmaar’s defense needs to be alert here!]

Chadli sent a low cross into the 18 yard box, but Reijnen reacted well, getting a foot to it and clearing the danger. The home crowd applauded.

AZ Alkmaar settled into possession, passing it around their backline with patience. Gorter received the ball on the left and spotted an opening.

He lofted a precise pass over the top for Berghuis, who controlled it brilliantly on the edge of the 18 yard box.

[Lovely ball control! Berghuis is in a good position here!] Ronald’s voice lifted.

Berghuis hesitated for a split second before cutting inside, looking for an opening. He spotted Benjamin making a late run through the center and rolled the ball into his path.

The young winger let it run past his body, he took one touch, then unleashed a low-driven shot toward the bottom corner.

[Benjamin with the strike—!] Erik started.

But Boschker was equal to it, diving low to his right to parry the ball away.

[Oh, what a save!] Ronald exclaimed. [Boschker denies Benjamin early on!]

The stadium let out a collective sigh, then broke into applause for the effort. Benjamin clapped his hands, already refocusing.

[That was a confident hit,] Erik noted. [Benjamin didn’t think twice. You can see why the coaching staff rates him so highly."

Twente tried to respond with a quick counter, but AZ Alkmaar’s midfield was well-organized. Viergever stepped in to intercept a pass toward Castaignos, immediately recycling possession.

The opening minutes had set the tone. It was fast-paced, intense, and evenly matched.

[We’re in for a thrilling contest,]×Ronald said, his voice filled with excitement. [Both teams have shown they’re not here to sit back. It’s all to play for!]

As the game pressed on, the battle for control in midfield intensified. Benjamin found himself shadowed closely by Fer, the Twente midfielder making it clear he wasn’t going to make things easy.

Viergever’s header sent the ball toward the penalty spot, where Altidore jostled for position against Bjelland.

The American striker managed to get a touch, redirecting it toward goal, but the effort lacked power. Boschker gathered it cleanly.

[Not quite the finish Altidore wanted,] Erik remarked. [He did well to get something on it, but Boschker had that covered.]

Boschker wasted no time, rolling the ball out to Brama, who immediately pushed forward.

Twente were quick in transition, their midfielders linking up with one-touch passes. Fer found Tadić out wide, and the Serbian playmaker sized up his options.

[This is where Twente are dangerous,] Ronald pointed out. [Tadić has space, and he’s got the vision to unlock a defense.]

Tadić shaped to cross but instead slipped the ball inside to Castaignos, who took a quick touch to set himself. He turned sharply, firing a low shot toward the near post.

[Shot from Castaignos—!] Erik’s voice lifted.

Alvarado reacted instantly, dropping low to smother the strike. The ball bounced off his gloves, but Reijnen was there to clear before Chadli could pounce.

[Another good save!] Ronald said. [Castaignos testing Alvarado again, but the AZ Alkmaar keeper is holding firm.]