The game restarted quickly, Den Haag in no rush to force anything forward. Their center-backs exchanged a few passes, drawing whistles from the home fans.
Chris: [And here we go. Den Haag are trying to slow this game down, kill the rhythm. It's smart, but it's going to make for a frustrating half if you're an AZ Alkmaar fan.]
Rob: [And that's exactly what they want. They know AZ Alkmaar will come at them, so why give them any momentum?]
Benjamin shook his head at the screen. He knew this pattern all too well. Den Haag would sit deep, absorb pressure, and try to hit on the break. He had seen it before. Played against it before. He hated it.
AZ Alkmaar pressed higher, forcing a rushed clearance. Reijnen stepped forward, chesting the ball down before playing it wide. Henriksen took a touch, looking up, then launched a long diagonal toward Beerens.
The winger controlled it well, darted past his marker, and swung in a dangerous low cross—
