AFAS Stadion, Alkmaar
The rivalry was real, and Amani could feel it the moment Utrecht's bus pulled into the AFAS Stadion parking lot. AZ Alkmaar supporters lined the route, their chants and banners making it clear that last season's cup semifinal defeat still stung.
The sea of orange and red scarves waved menacingly in the afternoon breeze, while drums thundered a hostile rhythm that seemed to echo through the very walls of the bus. For Amani, returning to the scene of one of his greatest triumphs felt different this time - he was no longer the surprise package, but a marked man with a target painted firmly on his back.
The atmosphere outside was electric with anticipation and barely contained aggression. Supporters pressed against the barriers, their faces painted in team colors, their voices hoarse from hours of pre-match singing.
