AZ Alkmaar upends FC Groningen

Nov 29, 2008 - 12:07 AM By PA SportsTicker

FC Groningen's perfect home record came to an end as AZ Alkmaar extended their lead at the top of the Eredivisie table on Friday with a 2-0 triumph.

After winning all of its opening six games at the Euroborg this season, Groningen was undone by a fine AZ performance capped by goals from David Mendes Da Silva and Ari.

The win moved AZ three points clear of second-placed NAC Breda, which has a game in hand, while Groningen are six points off the pace in fourth.

AZ traveled to Groningen with a number of absentees, including the league's top scorer, Mounir El Hamdaoui.

Yet it still gave a signal of its attacking intent from the first whistle. Brett Holman struck the wall with a free-kick and Ari forced Groningen keeper Luciano da Silva to push a shot onto the post with his fingertips within the opening 10 minutes.

The hosts, though, were looking to bounce back from last weekend's 3-0 defeat at Willem II and Andreas Granqvist produced their best chance of the opening half after 20 minutes when he headed a Danny Holla free-kick into the gloves of AZ stopper Sergio Romero.

Seven minutes later, however, Groningen found itself behind as Mendes da Silva headed in Stijn Schaars' cross from inside the six-yard box.