AZ won the first match of the season on Saturday. The Alkmaar team was too strong for the Scottish Kilmarnock in Dirkshorn, partly due to a goal by Mexx Meerdink, with 2-0. FC Twente started the preparation with a 14-0 victory against the amateurs of DSVD.
AZ missed many players against the number nine of the Scottish Premiership, who are still on holiday due to international obligations. Ruben van Bommel, Ernest Poku and Wouter Goes were not there, after they were eliminated with Jong Oranje at the European Championship under 21 this week. Kees Smit is also still free for the time being, after his leading role with Orange under 19 at the European Championship in Romania.
Mexx Meerdink was not called up for Jong Oranje, so he is there from the start in the preparation of AZ. The striker opened the score against Kimarnock after 28 minutes by tapping in a low cross from Denso Kasius. Alexandre Penetra made it 2-0 four minutes later.
AZ will play four more practice matches before the first match in the second preliminary round of the Conference League awaits on July 24. Trainer Maarten Martens’ team will then play against the loser of the diptych between Shakhtar Donetsk or Ilves Tampere.
The Ukrainian club and the Finnish club play against each other in the first preliminary round of the Europa League.
FC Twente does not have to play European football this season, but has already started preparing early. The first practice match, against Tweedeklasser DSVD from Deuringen, was won with no less than 14-0. Arno Verschueren and Naci Ünüvar both scored a hat-trick at the complex of the Overijssel amateur club.
Michel Vlap scored twice and Carel Eiting, Taylor Booth, Mitchell van Bergen and Daan Rots were also accurate. There was also an own goal from a DSVD player.
