Match Report


Sparta RotterdamSparta Rotterdam     AZ 67 AlkmaarAZ 67 Alkmaar
Michael DouglasMichael Douglas Anwar Lawal Anwar Lawal
Ismael BulentI. Bulent80
G
captain1
G
84Joseph-Desire NjankaJ. Njanka
Sherif SoloyS. Soloy73
D
2
D
75Vincenzo NeudeckerV. Neudecker
Cor HendriksC. Hendriks79
D
3
D
71Stefano HammingS. Hamming
Arthur WoodgateA. Woodgate68
D
4
D
70Hugo BentoH. Bento
Gianfranco MilaneseG. Milanese72
D
5
M
61Eric de WitE. de Wit
Youri KarpinY. Karpin79
M
6
M
80Albrecht BirnbaumA. Birnbaum
Emiliano PieriE. Pieri76
M
7
M
75Dean HughesD. Hughes
Lorenzo GiampaoloL. Giampaolo74
A
8captain
M
73Steve Van Der WeerdenS. Van Der Weerden
Carlton ThomsonC. Thomson74
M
9
A
69Anselmo PandolfiA. Pandolfi
Nico KistnerN. Kistner75
A
10
A
64Alberto QuaresmaA. Quaresma
Franck DoumencF. Doumenc81
A
11
A
71Albrecht RiemannA. Riemann
 
Wayne MarsdenW. Marsden66
D
12
D
55Miel Van EijkM. Van Eijk
Oscar EspositoO. Esposito73
A
13
M
75Jan Van Der LeegteJ. Van Der Leegte
Florian BergF. Berg76
A
14
A
78Hannes BreyerH. Breyer

Cafe Lantana
today's match is sponsored by Cafe Lantana
Match Report
Rain lashes down heavily here at Het Kasteel where Sparta Rotterdam play host to AZ 67 Alkmaar. Its a sell-out today with the 21,000 capacity stadium completely full.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Sparta Rotterdam are playing in a 4-2-3-1 formation while AZ 67 Alkmaar appear to be shaped for 3-4-3.
Today's match is refereed by Jeffrey Lambers.


0.00
Sparta Rotterdam kick off and get the match underway!
3.28
Albrecht Birnbaum controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Albrecht Riemann. Albrecht Riemann whips in a cross ball towards Alberto Quaresma. Alberto Quaresma is perfectly placed and heads the ball at goal but Ismael Bulent reads it well. Superb keeping!
6.35
Dean Hughes clumsily knocks into Emiliano Pieri. The referee brings Dean Hughes to one side and gives him a warning! Emiliano Pieri hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
8.29
Dean Hughes runs straight at the opposition's defence. Dean Hughes cuts inside the box! Dean Hughes comes through the middle and smashes a shot from 11 yards out but it is tipped over by Ismael Bulent.
9.57
It's a corner kick. Steve Van Der Weerden loops the ball over to the far post. Some silky footwork from Anselmo Pandolfi provides him some room. He curls a shot at goal but it sails harmlessly over the bar!
12.52
Emiliano Pieri makes a probing pass to Carlton Thomson. Carlton Thomson knocks in a cross ball towards Franck Doumenc. Franck Doumenc finds space and glances the ball goalwards with his head but it is tipped over by Joseph-Desire Njanka.
14.16
Emiliano Pieri takes the corner kick, swinging the ball in towards the near post. Steve Van Der Weerden gets to the ball and clears it up field.
18.59
Vincenzo Neudecker chips the ball to his team mate, Dean Hughes. Dean Hughes passes the ball forward to Albrecht Riemann. Albrecht Riemann finds some space and shoots from distance but it is shockingly off target!
20.08
Youri Karpin sees space and advances. Youri Karpin whips in a cross ball towards Franck Doumenc. Franck Doumenc jumps high and flicks the ball with his head but Joseph-Desire Njanka reads it well. Nice keeping!
21.13
Stefano Hamming threads a neat ball through to Steve Van Der Weerden. Steve Van Der Weerden hits a low pass to Albrecht Riemann. Albrecht Riemann controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal but it curls horrendously wide!
22.48
With some swift thinking, Hugo Bento plays the ball forward to Steve Van Der Weerden. Steve Van Der Weerden knocks the ball forward to Anselmo Pandolfi. Anselmo Pandolfi knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
27.45
With some swift thinking, Cor Hendriks plays the ball forward to Emiliano Pieri. Emiliano Pieri surges forward with the ball. Emiliano Pieri lofts in a cross ball towards Nico Kistner. Nico Kistner connects with a diving header. The ball flies towards the top corner but Stefano Hamming is on the line. He jumps and heads the ball over the bar!
28.57
Emiliano Pieri takes the corner kick, swinging the ball in towards the near post. Alberto Quaresma gets to the ball and kicks it upfield to safety.
30.18
Albrecht Riemann clumsily knocks into Arthur Woodgate. Albrecht Riemann is given a warning by the referee! Arthur Woodgate runs off the knock.
32.45
Steve Van Der Weerden flicks a high ball forward to Alberto Quaresma who takes it down. Alberto Quaresma shoots from outside the area. It smacks hard against the advertising boards behind the goal. Just wide!
36.13
Steve Van Der Weerden brings the ball forward. Steve Van Der Weerden shoots from long range but he skews it badly. The ball flies well over the bar!
38.19
Emiliano Pieri hits a low pass to Carlton Thomson. Carlton Thomson whips in a cross ball towards Lorenzo Giampaolo. Lorenzo Giampaolo is unmarked! He powers a header at goal but is denied by Hugo Bento. Excellent block.
39.28
From the throw-in, Vincenzo Neudecker picks out Stefano Hamming. With imagination, Stefano Hamming plays the ball forward to Steve Van Der Weerden. Steve Van Der Weerden knocks the ball forward to Alberto Quaresma. Alberto Quaresma shoots from 25 yards but it is tipped over by Ismael Bulent.
40.14
Steve Van Der Weerden takes a quick corner, playing it short to Anselmo Pandolfi. Cor Hendriks comes in with a tackle and wins the ball, clearing it upfield.
44.40
Vincenzo Neudecker knocks the ball to his team mate, Dean Hughes. Dean Hughes knocks the ball forward to Alberto Quaresma. Alberto Quaresma finds some space and shoots from distance but it is tipped over by Ismael Bulent.
45.00
The referee whistles the end of the first half!

Both teams emerge for the second half. Sparta Rotterdam have changed their lineup with Florian Berg replacing Franck Doumenc. AZ 67 Alkmaar appear unchanged since the first half. The Sparta Rotterdam players look more determined than they did at the start of the game.

45.00
AZ 67 Alkmaar start the second half!
48.42
Stefano Hamming hacks Carlton Thomson from behind! The referee reaches into his pocket ... it's a yellow card! Carlton Thomson stretches but gets up unharmed.
49.11
Emiliano Pieri hacks Dean Hughes from behind! The referee reaches into his pocket ... it's a yellow card! Dean Hughes runs off the knock.
54.51
Youri Karpin flicks a high pass forward. Lorenzo Giampaolo controls it well on his chest. Lorenzo Giampaolo whips in a cross ball towards Florian Berg. Florian Berg directs the ball goalwards with his head but Joseph-Desire Njanka is on top of it.
55.09
Albrecht Birnbaum makes a simple pass to Alberto Quaresma. Alberto Quaresma knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
57.54
Vincenzo Neudecker makes a probing pass to Dean Hughes. Dean Hughes flicks a high pass forward. Anselmo Pandolfi controls it well on his chest. Anselmo Pandolfi lofts in a cross ball towards Albrecht Riemann. Albrecht Riemann directs the ball goalwards with his head. It's a goal!! What a beauty!
60.38
Sparta Rotterdam have made a substitution with Oscar Esposito replacing Carlton Thomson .
63.43
Gianfranco Milanese flicks the ball to his team mate, Emiliano Pieri. Emiliano Pieri passes the ball forward to Lorenzo Giampaolo. Lorenzo Giampaolo whips in a cross ball towards Oscar Esposito. Oscar Esposito flicks the ball with his head. What a cracker!! Joseph-Desire Njanka had no chance!! Goal for Sparta Rotterdam!
66.38
Emiliano Pieri passes the ball through the wet conditions to the feet of Lorenzo Giampaolo. Lorenzo Giampaolo knocks in a cross ball towards Florian Berg. Florian Berg connects with a diving header. The ball flies towards the top corner but the keeper is able to reach it. Excellent keeping!
72.48
Albrecht Birnbaum catches Emiliano Pieri on the ankles. The referee calls over Albrecht Birnbaum and shows him a yellow card! Emiliano Pieri carries on, but is struggling a bit.
77.54
Gianfranco Milanese plays the ball forward to Emiliano Pieri. Emiliano Pieri controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Oscar Esposito. Oscar Esposito knocks in a cross ball towards Lorenzo Giampaolo. With a superhuman jump, Lorenzo Giampaolo connects with the ball and heads it goalwards. Hugo Bento clears it off the line with his head!
78.55
Albrecht Riemann comes in with a late challenge on Arthur Woodgate. Albrecht Riemann is warned by the referee again! Arthur Woodgate carries on, but is struggling a bit.
85.19
Albrecht Birnbaum barges into Emiliano Pieri. The referee brings Albrecht Birnbaum to one side and gives him a warning! Emiliano Pieri runs off the knock.
90.00
The whistle blows full-time!

Match Statistics
 

Sparta Rotterdam

AZ 67 Alkmaar
Goals
1
1
Shots on Target
8
5
Shots off Target
0
5
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
1
6
Yellow Cards
1
2
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
47.5%
52.5%
Play Area
33.8%
42.5%
23.8%

Scorers
Oscar Esposito 63
Albrecht Riemann 58

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Oscar Esposito of Sparta Rotterdam

Match Ratings