The spoils were shared in Leeuwarden in a typically entertaining Eredivisie match in which both sides missed chances to take all three points.
- By Michael Statham
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Cambuur struggled to create many chances in the first half against a confident AZ. Although in-form Bartholomew Ogbeche saw his powerful header saved by Countinho from Furdjel Narsingh’s cross.
The visitors relied on their threat coming from Vincent Janssen. The striker was unlucky not to open the scoring when played through by Dabney dos Santos, but saw his shot saved at the near post.
Shortly after, Janssen did manage to find the net, in controversial fashion however as he handled Markus Henriksen’s ball across goal, before finishing past Leonard Nienhuis.
The home fans were furious and continued to jeer as Janssen missed another chance in a matter of minutes, turning on the ball in the box before firing just wide of the post.
The second half continued in the same vein as the first as AZ created more openings. Janssen and the impressive dos Santos were both denied by Nienhuis.
Next to pass up an opening was Guus Hupperts as he smashed over from a dos Santos through ball. The visitors knew that if they didn’t take their chances they would be punished.
Cambuur began to push for an equaliser as the clock ticked on. Sjoerd Overgoor headed over from close range and AZ goalkeeper Countinho palmed away a Martijn Barto header shortly after.
From a succession of corners, Henk De Jong’s men finally found the equaliser. Ogbeche poking home from a yard out following a flick on in the box.
The home side could sense the tide had turned in the match and duly went on the search for what seemed an unlikely winner earlier in the half.
AZ captain Jeffrey Gouweleeuw came to the rescue to clear off the line and Barto again had a header superbly saved by Coutinho.
Cambuur finished the match with ten men as Wes Dammers was sent off late on, which ultimately nullified their efforts for a winner.
The home side remain without a win after nine games and stay seventeenth. AZ for now sit ninth.
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Writer/interviewer/YouTuber for Football-Oranje. Massive Dutch football fan from the UK. Follow me @EredivisieMike & subscribe to Football-Oranje on YouTube.
