Rob: [He'll be wondering how that didn't go in. But credit to Coutinho, that's a world-class stop]
AZ Alkmaar kept pushing. Henriksen dictated the tempo, Elm pulled the strings, and Beerens and Berghuis provided width. Den Haag, meanwhile, sat deep, defending with numbers, waiting for a counterattack.
Benjamin knew exactly what this kind of game felt like. The frustration of having the ball but not finding the breakthrough. The need for patience, the importance of timing.
Half an hour in, the pattern remained the same. AZ Alkmaar dominated possession, but the final touch was missing.
Then, suddenly—danger.
A long ball over the top, bypassing the midfield entirely. ADO Den Haag's striker, Tjaronn Chery, peeled away from his marker, sprinting into open space.
Chris: [And now Den Haag on the break—Chery is through!]
Benjamin sat up, his heart rate spiking.
Viergever gave chase, but Chery had the edge. He took one touch, then another, angling towards goal.
