BRETT Holman swapped green and gold for red as a first half verbal blast at the referee saw him dismissed during AZ Alkmaar's 3-0 defeat by ADO Den Haag.
Holman's dismissal before the interval brought the game to life and ADO striker Fabio Caracciolo slotted home from close range after the restart to give his side the edge.
Veteran midfielder Richard Knopper then doubled their advantage midway through the second half before substitute Hursut Meric secured the victory when he chipped the ball over the out-rushing Sergio Romero in the AZ goal.
After a quiet opening 20 minutes, Yuri Cornelisse could have given ADO the lead when his expertly taken overhead kick went inches over AZ's crossbar.
Barely five minutes later it was AZ who could have gained the advantage when midfielder Nick van der Velden shot from long range only to see his effort caught by goalkeeper Robert Zwinkels.
AZ continued to spurn their chances when Moussa Dembele drilled a shot straight at Zwinkels who managed to tip it over the bar.
A minute before the break ADO striker Karim Soltani saw his close-range effort go just wide of the post.
But in first-half injury-time Holman was shown a red card for abusing the match official which proved to be the turning point in the game.
Barely 10 minutes after the break, Fabio Caracciolo drilled a superb effort beyond the outreaching Romero to take the lead.
ADO could have doubled their lead on the hour mark when Csaba Horvath latched onto a Christian Kum corner only to see his header again saved by Romero, who quickly threw the ball on the counter-attack to Jeremain Lens who, under severe ADO pressure, could only chip his effort over the bar.
With their numerical disadvantage, the visitors succumbed to tiredness midway through the second half and Knopper doubled ADO's lead when he found himself in acres of space to head home from close range.
And ADO completed the rout five minutes from time when Meric chipped the ball over Romero to leave AZ still seeking their first win of the campaign.
Veteran midfielder Richard Knopper then doubled their advantage midway through the second half before substitute Hursut Meric secured the victory when he chipped the ball over the out-rushing Sergio Romero in the AZ goal.
After a quiet opening 20 minutes, Yuri Cornelisse could have given ADO the lead when his expertly taken overhead kick went inches over AZ's crossbar.
Barely five minutes later it was AZ who could have gained the advantage when midfielder Nick van der Velden shot from long range only to see his effort caught by goalkeeper Robert Zwinkels.
AZ continued to spurn their chances when Moussa Dembele drilled a shot straight at Zwinkels who managed to tip it over the bar.
A minute before the break ADO striker Karim Soltani saw his close-range effort go just wide of the post.
But in first-half injury-time Holman was shown a red card for abusing the match official which proved to be the turning point in the game.
Barely 10 minutes after the break, Fabio Caracciolo drilled a superb effort beyond the outreaching Romero to take the lead.
ADO could have doubled their lead on the hour mark when Csaba Horvath latched onto a Christian Kum corner only to see his header again saved by Romero, who quickly threw the ball on the counter-attack to Jeremain Lens who, under severe ADO pressure, could only chip his effort over the bar.
With their numerical disadvantage, the visitors succumbed to tiredness midway through the second half and Knopper doubled ADO's lead when he found himself in acres of space to head home from close range.
And ADO completed the rout five minutes from time when Meric chipped the ball over Romero to leave AZ still seeking their first win of the campaign.
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