Black day for Dutch soccer

"Madness”, “Match abandoned after bizarre incident” and “We’ve never had this before” – the banner headlines in today’s national newspapers echo the outcry among the general public, following a major incident at Wednesday night’s last-16 Dutch Cup tie between Ajax Amsterdam and AZ Alkmaar.

The match was abandoned after Alkmaar's Costa Rican goalkeeper Esteban was sent off for kicking a fan who had run on to the pitch to attack him with a karate kick. Tempers flared after the red card was shown, prompting Alkmaar coach Gert Jan Verbeek to order his men to leave the pitch and the match was called off with Ajax leading 1-0.

For more: Black day for Dutch football | Radio Netherlands Worldwide

UEFA European Soccer League: AZ (Netherlands) , Anderlecht (Belgium), Beşiktaş (Turkey) hit the early goal trail

Beşiktaş, AZ Alkmaar and RSC Anderlecht were the big winners as the UEFA Europa League group stage got under way while 2010 victors Club Atlético de Madrid and runners-up last season, SC Braga, also triumphed.

Watch all Thursday night's goals on UEFA.com

For more: The official website for European football – UEFA.com

SportsYA: Dutch Premier Soccer league: AZ Alkmaar grabs title for second time

For the complete report from SportsYA click on this link

Dutch Premier Soccer league: AZ Alkmaar grabs title for second time

Founded just 42 years ago, when Alkmaar and Zaanstreekas FC got merged, AZ Alkmaar got their second title at the Dutch Soccer Premier League; they celebrated the first one in the 1980-81 season. On Saturday, Alkmaar couldn't celebrate their new title as they wanted to because they lost by 1-2 to Vitesse which was only their third defeat in the season. In the end, Twente lost to Feyenoord in Rotterdam, while Ajax lost to PSV in Eindhoven. This meant that AZ became the champion even while they still have to play 3 more games. So AZ Alkmaar's trip to Ajax on Sunday has lost a lot of its luster after AZ clinched the premier league title following Ajax's 6-2 defeat against PSV Eindhoven last weekend. Louis van Gaal's champion team will have little to play for at the Amsterdam Arena except prestige if they beat their Amsterdam hosts. For Ajax however, there is plenty on the line, who trail second-placed Twente by only one point. It should make for an interesting Sunday.