AZ Alkmaar 0-1 Barça U19A: Into the UEFA Youth League final

The FC Barcelona U19A side are one step closer to the UEFA Youth League title after defeating Dutch side AZ Alkmaar 1-0 in the semi-final in Nyon, Switzerland. A goal from the penalty spot by Juan Hernández was enough to send the blaugranes into the final for the first time in seven years. 

Great start 

The game at the Colovray Sports Centre at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon could not have started better for the blaugranes. After dominating the early exchanges, the blaugranes were awarded a penalty after Juan Hernández was brought down in the box. The Barça number 7 picked himself up and scored from the spot himself to put his side 1-0 up in just the seventh minute of the game. 

Instead of sitting back and protecting their lead, Barça sought to extend it. Chances came in the first half with Xavi Espart coming close to making it 2-0. At the other end, before half time Landry cleared off the line to prevent Boogard equalising for AZ. 

Holding at bay 

Barça keeper Yaakobishvili had to be at his best to deny the Dutch side who came out determined to extend their run of 24 games in Europe without losing in 90 minutes. Juliano Belletti's team kept the ball for long periods to try and take the sting out of the game but AZ started to get the upper hand as the second half progressed. Nevertheless, the blaugranes showed great maturity defending their lead and holding on to take victory to book a place in Monday's final against Turkish club Trabzonspor. 

MATCH STATS

AZ Alkmaar, 0
Juvenil A, 1

AZ Alkmaar: Zeggen, Menu (Saffoe, min 73), Oud (Van der Klaauw, min 85), Van Ouytsel, Dijkstra, Smits (Hartog, min 60), Boogaard, Oerip, Bouziane (Inge, min 73), Budko and Van den Ban
Juvenil A: Yaakobishvili, Xavi Espart, Eman Kospo, Cuenca, Landry (Sama Nomoko, min 90), Brian Fariñas, Juan H. (Walton, min 90), Quim Junyent (Tomás Marqués, min 79), Hugo Alba (Kluivert, min 90), Diarra (Pedro Rodriguez, min 54) AND Arnau Pradas

Goal: 0-1, Juan H. (pen.) (min 7)