April 25 – Dutch club AZ Alkmaar stunned Croatia’s Hadjuk Split with a 5-0 win in the UEFA Youth League final in Geneva, sending the travelling Croatian support of nearly 10,000 fans home disappointed.
AZ Alkmaar and Hajduk Split both made their way to the final four through the domestic champions route. Only three clubs have previously come through that route to the semis – Anderlecht in 2015-16, eventual champions Salzburg in 2016-17 and Chelsea in 2018-19.
Hadjuk Split beat Italian giants AC Milan 3-1 in their semi-final, to face AZ Alkmaar who overcame Portugal’s Sporting CP 4-3 on penalties.
It was the winning penalty scorer from the semi-final, Jaydan Addai, who opened the scoring just before the half time whistle and again from the penalty spot.
Ernest Poku doubled the score on 70 minutes before scoring six minutes later following a swift one-two with Mexx Meerdink who was subbed into the game at half time.
Meerdink, who scored the winning penalty for the seniors in their UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final with Anderlecht on Thursday and also played in Sunday’s Eredivisie defeat of RKC Waawijk before flying to Geneva, then added tow more goals of his own on 79 and 87 minutes.
“It’s almost indescribable. We came here with one purpose, and that was to take this trophy home. It’s a fantastic moment,” said Meerdink.
“I came on in the 20th minute yesterday [against RKC Waalwijk in the Eredivisie on Sunday] and got kneed in my thigh. I sat in the dressing room with a towel over my head, thinking the Youth League was over for me. But everyone did all they could, and with two goals and an assist I helped what was a fantastic team performance.”
The UEFA Youth League is an U-19 club competition first introduced in 2013-14 as a two-year trial at the request of the European Club Association with the aim to develop youth football at professional club level and reduce the gap between youth and first teams.
The format sees each of the UEFA Champions League group stage clubs entered their U19 sides with a group and match schedule that mirrors the senior competition.
Previous winners:
2013/14: Barcelona (runners-up: Benfica)
2014/15: Chelsea (Shakhtar)
2015/16: Chelsea (Paris)
2016/17: Salzburg (Benfica)
2017/18: Barcelona (Chelsea)
2018/19: Porto (Chelsea)
2019/20: Real Madrid (Benfica)
2020/21: season cancelled
2021/22: Benfica (Salzburg)
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