Netherlands

Eerste Divisie

Friday 12th October 2018

Kick Off 20.00. On Time !

Jong A.Z. 2 Jong F.C. Utrecht 2,  attendance 550

12’ 1-0 (pen)

51’ 1-1

68’ 1-2

75’ 2-2

@ AFAS Training Complex

Zuiderweg 72A

1456 NH

Wijdewormer

€5 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

A.Z. or to give them their full title, Alkmaar Zaanstreek, stage their reserve matches here, rather than at their AFAS Stadium. There was no problem with buying tickets for this match (from a booth at the entrance) as it was against a fellow reserve team, but the ground only has a capacity of 2,383 so it may be different against a well supported club, especially one with a ‘hooligan’ reputation. Before taking on the sponsor name AFAS, the ground was known as Sportpark Kalverhoek.

The Eerste Divisie is the second tier in the Netherlands, with this match being 15th versus 19th (out of 20) in the league table. The first half was pretty dull, but Utrecht seemed like a different team in the second half and this resulted in a really good open match. Both teams had chances to win it, but A.Z. will probably feel it was two points lost, rather than one gained.

This was the first match of a 4 game long weekend in the Netherlands and Belgium. We had taken the 10.20 Tunnel to Calais, from where it was a 242 mile drive to just north of Amsterdam. We stopped overnight in the adjacent town of Zaandijk, from where it was a 35-40 minute walk to the ground.