Az Alkmaar's head coach Arne Slot gestures during a UEFA Europa League Group L football match between Partizan and Az Alkmaar in Belgrade, Serbia on Sept. 19, 2019. The match ended in a 2-2 draw. (Xinhua/Predrag Milosavljevic)
BELGRADE, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Serbian Partizan and Dutch AZ Alkmaar played a 2-2 draw in the first game in the group L of the Europa League on Thursday in Belgrade, after an exciting turnaround.
The runners-up of Serbian Superliga pressured Netherland's 4th ranked team in the beginning of the match by several unprecise shots that missed the goal frame, while the guests waited for a counterattack opportunity.
Such a chance emerged with a long pass in the 13th minute caught by Myron Boadu, who then defeated Partizan's defense with an assist to Calvin Stengs, who sent the ball with a gentle touch behind the keeper for a 1-0 lead.
However, an important turnaround took place when Jonas Svennson tackled Partizan's Takuma Asano in the 27th minute and earned a red card which marked Partizan's domination.
Pressure of the home team paid off in the 42th minute when Stijn Wuytens conceded a penalty for a foul on Umar Sadiq, while Bibras Natkho used the opportunity to level the score 1-1.
In 61st minute, Sadiq sent a shot on goal that hit the post and deflected to Natkho, who directed a projectile from 16 meters that shook the net and brought Partizan into the lead.
However, Boadu once again caught a long pass from the halfway line in 67th minute, but instead passing it on like in the first goal, he raced on to beat keeper Vladimir Stojkovic and leveled the score himself.
Until the end of the game, none of the teams managed to break the deadlock, and will mark only a point each in this round of the competition.
On October 3, Partizan play next match against Astana away, while AZ host Manchester United.
