In the friendly match in the Netherlands against AZ Alkmaar, a 2-2 draw is achieved. At the AFAS Stadion in Alkmaar, the Nerazzurri score in the second half with an own goal caused by Lookman and a goal by De Ketelaere.
It’s a festive day for the home team as they celebrate AZ Fan Day, the traditional “Open Day” organized by the Dutch club and dedicated to their fans.
The first opportunity belongs to the home team in the 5th minute when Parrott finds space in the box but shoots wide. In the 16th minute, Scamacca works well on a pass at the edge of the box, which Zappacosta returns to him, but the striker’s shot goes off target. AZ poses a threat in the 18th minute with a shot from Moller Wolfe that Carnesecchi manages to save. In the 27th minute, Teun Koopmeiners loads his left foot: the ball goes high. The Nerazzurri come very close to taking the lead in the 28th minute: from a corner kick, Ruggeri delivers a good cross for Koopmeiners, who has his volley saved by Zoet with a great stop. A good moment for the Nerazzurri, who are dangerous again in the 31st minute, this time with Koopmeiners (slightly wide left diagonal) and in the 33rd with Lookman, who is set free in the area by a nice through ball from Pašalić but fails to hit the target. The match breaks the deadlock in the 35th minute, with AZ going ahead thanks to Parrott’s successful header. In the 41st minute, the Nerazzurri come close to equalizing: a nice combination on the left wing between Ruggeri and Lookman ends with the Bergamasque winger’s shot being saved by Zoet.
In the second half, after a great recovery by de Roon on Poku, Scamacca threatens in the 56th minute with a shot that narrowly misses. In the 61st minute, Mijnans manages to turn towards the Nerazzurri goal but misses the target. The equalizer arrives in the 65th minute: Bakker crosses from the left for Lookman’s shot, which finds a decisive deflection from Moller Wolfe for 1-1. Just a few minutes pass, and the Nerazzurri overturn the match with a perfect corner kick play, where Kolašinac extends the ball for De Ketelaere’s winning deflection, well positioned at the back post. AZ finds the equalizer late in the game with Zeefuik (87′), then challenges Musso in the 90th minute with a shot from outside the box by Poku. The first international test of the Nerazzurri pre-season ends 2-2 in the Netherlands.
AZ ALKMAAR-ATALANTA 2-2
Goals: 35′ Parrott (AZ), 65′ own goal Moller Wolfe (AZ), 70′ De Ketelaere (A), 87′ Zeefuik (AZ).
AZ Alkmaar: Zoet (46′ Verhulst), Maikuma (74′ Kasius), Goes, Dekker (66′ Bazoer), Moller Wolfe, P. Koopmeiners, Belic (46′ Clasie), Sadiq (66′ Addai), Mijnans (80′ Zeefuik), Van Brederode (80′ Buurmeester), Parrott (46′ Poku). Available: Virginio, Penetra, Van Bommel. Coach: Maarten Martens.
Atalanta: Carnesecchi (60′ Musso), Godfrey (74′ Toloi), Hien (74′ Palestra), Kolašinac (74′ Bonfanti), Zappacosta (60′ Hateboer), Pašalić (60′ Sulemana), de Roon (80′ Manzoni), Ruggeri (60′ Bakker), T. Koopmeiners (80′ Giovane), Lookman (74′ El Bilal), Scamacca (60′ De Ketelaere). Available: Rossi, Djimsiti. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Referee: Joey Kooj (assistants: Patrick J. Inia and M.J.A. Osseweije).
Notes: booked were Goes (AZ), Addai (AZ).