Chapitre 50: No Penalty!

The tempo of the match didn't falter after Anzhi Makhachkala's opening goal. Instead, both teams seemed to up their intensity.

AZ Alkmaar knew they had no choice but to respond quickly, while Anzhi Makhachkala who were emboldened by their lead, looked to press home their advantage.

The game restarted, and AZ Alkmaar immediately surged forward.

Martens took the ball in midfield, darting past an Anzhi Makhachkala midfielder before threading a pass to Gudmundsson on the left wing.

The winger controlled the ball deftly and drove toward the byline where Anzhi Makhachkala's right-back, Logashov, charged towards him to stop his run.

Gudmudsson read his opponent's movement and his quick feet allowed him to slip past Logashov and fire a cross to the 18-yard box. But his cross into the box was met by the towering Christopher Samba, who cleared it with ease.