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AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Olympiacos: Toothless Battle Sees Greeks Inch Closer To Knockout Stages

Neither side could find the net during tonight's 0-0 draw in Holland.

Nov 24, 2009 9:30:46 PM

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Olympiacos now need only a point to qualify for the next stage of the Champions League as a disappointing AZ Alkmaar side managed only a draw at home to the Greeks.

It was a morbid affair, and perhaps AZ should have scored for all their possession. However, it's goals that count, and the hosts couldn't produce them. So, at full-time, Olympiacos are on the verge of progressing while AZ must battle for a spot in the Europa League.

Olympiacos began the brighter of the sides, the Greek outfit pressing hard from the off and pushing the hosts back onto their heels. AZ looked a little shaky in the embryonic stages from all the pressure, but Zico's boys couldn't find enough space to form any real threat.

Alkmaar soon picked up the pace as the game progressed, and the roles were reversed. Brett Holman found Jeremain Lens' run with a beautifully threaded through ball, but the Dutch forward connected too late and was forced to settle for the side netting.

Lens continued to threaten throughout the half, most notably when teaming up with Moussa Dembele, the Belgian striker easily running away with the award for most dangerous player in the first 45 minutes.

Dembele sent balls through for Lens, and vice versa, all the way up until the half-time whistle was blown, with only Jaouad Zairi looking dangerous for the visitors.

'Fight all you like, it's not going in...'

After the break, the Dutch side pushed harder than ever to break the deadlock. Jeremain Lens looked like he was through two minutes into the second half, but the assistant made one of many poor decisions in ruling him offside after a beautiful long-ball from Pocognoli.

Dembele, Mendes da Silva, Brett Holman and Lens again all had great opportunities to put the hosts in the lead, but no-one seemed to have that important piece of composure that would give their side the advantage.

AZ persisted despite continually shooting wayward, and were almost rewarded for their efforts. A poked shot from Holman would have been in the back of the net if not for a last minute deflection but, again, there was just no way through for the home side.

Possession began to split between the teams, both sides unable to hold onto the ball for any prolonged period of time as the game wore on. Dudu enjoyed a strike from range, while Leonardo, who had been poor all match, almost snatched a goal for the visitors. In the end though, the Greeks were always just as toothless as their hosts.

The game was summed up right at the end as Lens sailed in a beautiful cross for substitute strikers Graziano Pelle and Ari. Neither of the forwards could do anything with the cross, eventually leading to Nikopolidis watching as the ball went out of play.

Stephen Crawford, Goal.com

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