FLERINGEN - AZ won a friendly match against Standard Liege on Wednesday morning. The match took place at VC Fleringen's Sportpark 't Reuvekamp, and the final score was 4-3 in favor of AZ. Ernest Poku scored the winning goal in the final moments of the game. The friendly consisted of three halves (1x 45 minutes, 2x 30 minutes).
AZ started the game well, with Sven Mijnans volleying and Yukinari Sugawara taking a long-range shot, both saved by the goalkeeper, creating some early chances. However, it was the Belgian side who took the lead after about 15 minutes of play. Following a handball by Sugawara, Noah Ohio stepped up to take the penalty kick and slotted it into the left corner to make it 0-1.
Vitesse loanee
Former Vitesse loanee Ohio wasn't done yet. He first hit the outside of the post after a cross from Aron Donnum, and shortly after, he finished off a brilliant solo run in spectacular fashion. Dribbling through the heart of AZ's defense, he calmly found the back of the net to make it 0-2.
Dani de Wit
Around three minutes after the second goal, Dani de Wit pulled one back for AZ. Vangelis Pavlidis delivered a cross from the right flank, and the ball found its way into the Standard's goalmouth, where number 10, De Wit, tapped it in from close range to make it 1-2.
Ohio hat-trick
With less than 30 minutes on the clock, the visitors extended their lead to 1-3. A low cross from the right was cleverly finished by Ohio with a backheel and a pirouette, completing his hat-trick.
Buurmeester
After the first 45 minutes, eleven new AZ players entered the field. One of those players was Zico Buurmeester, who scored AZ's second goal in the 51st minute with a low shot, bringing the score to 2-3. Not much else happened in the remainder of the first half of the second half.
Goudmijn-Barasi
In the last half-hour of the second half, AZ turned the game around. In the 80th minute, Yusuf Barasi scored with a header from a corner kick by Kenzo Goudmijn, making it 3-3. It proved to be a successful combination, as the duo had already found the back of the net in a similar fashion in the first friendly match against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Brilliant finish
The final act belonged to Poku. After 94 minutes, he sealed the victory with a magnificent goal, making it 4-3. The young forward sprinted down the right flank, cut inside, and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot into the top corner of the net.
