Vitesse Arnhem held on with ten-men to claim a 2-1 victory over AZ Alkmaar.
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The news before the game was dominated by Riechedly Bazoer, who was dropped from the Vitesse squad after an incident in training. Enzo Cornelisse replaced him in the line-up. AZ matched Vitesse’s formation with Dani de Wit coming into the starting line-up.
The first big chance fell to Vitesse in the 16th minute but both Matus Bero and Lois Openda could not find a way past Marco Bizot. In the 31st minute, Openda did make it 1-0 after a good cross from Ali Dasa on the right-wing.
AZ tried to respond before the break but Owen Wijndal fired over before Jonas Svensson hit the post. Early in the second-half, Calvin Stengs had a great chance to equalise but saw his effort cleared from the line.
In the 72nd minute, Jacob Rasmussen doubled Vitesse’s lead with a header from a free-kick. However, seven minutes later, Cornelisse was shown a straight red-card for bringing down Myron Boadu.
AZ quickly pulled one back through Jesper Karlsson, but they could not find the equaliser before the end.
Vitesse’s win moves them to within a point of AZ Alkmaar, who remains third.
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