ADO Den Haag again failed to provide the audience with an enjoyable match in a well-filled Bingoal Stadium (over eight thousand spectators). After taking a 1-0 lead, FC Eindhoven easily came back to 1-1 after the goal change. Losing two points again, now at number fifteen of the KKD.
Text: Tone Beije | Photo’s: Eric de Wit
The technical staff had again come up with a surprising line-up. Henk Veerman, the team’s top scorer, was on the bench – as was Daryl van Myghem – the player with the most assists. Jort van der Sande was back after an injury and a place in the starting line-up had been cleared for Sylvinho Esajas and Jerry van Wolfgang. Timothy Dereijck (injury) and Jari Vlak (just became a father) were not available.
It was striking that before the match had even started, a player from the home team, led by John Nieuwenburg, was warming up. After ten minutes, trainer Kalezic had to make the first substitution. Captain Kürsad Sürmeli could not continue and was replaced by Dhoraso Klas.
Not much happened in the first fifteen minutes, at least not to keep you on the edge of your seat as a spectator. The first opportunity was for ADO Den Haag. On a pass from Van Wolfgang, Jort van der Sande headed the ball well to the ground, but goalkeeper Jorn Brondeel responded attentively. On the other hand, former ADO Den Haag player Evan Rottier seemed to have a chance, but he looked too high for the enemy goal.
ADO Den Haag had the most ball possession in the first half, but there was certainly no real eye-catching football and ball possession was handled sloppily. Still, the home team deservedly took the lead at that moment. In the 24th minute, Jerry van Wolfgang made a good move, came face to face with goalkeeper Brondeel and with a nice marker he put ADO Den Haag at 1-0. With that score, both teams also went to the locker room for halftime.
Although the ADO fans continued to cheer on their team, disappointment soon set in. The second act was only eleven minutes old, when Farouw Limouri, completely free – after a corner kick – was able to easily head the equalizer past goalkeeper Nick Marsman: 1-1. The Brabanders almost took the lead shortly afterwards, but substitute striker Mart Leider (who had also scored last weekend after returning from an injury) saw his effort disappear wide of the Hague goal.
On the Hague side, everything that was laid on the excellent turf remained very mediocre. The team often did not handle ball possession well. FC Eindhoven had the next opportunity through Farouw Limouri again, but he found goalkeeper Marsman in his way. The scoreboard still showed the 1-1 score against number fifteen. The active Alex Schalk did not have much luck with his shots in this match and regularly found the good goalkeeping Brondeel in his way.
With about twelve minutes left on the clock, ADO Den Haag’s substitutes finally came on. Henk Veerman was allowed to take office, as were Joel Ideho and Malik Sellouki. The public hoped for a turnaround, a somewhat better ADO Den Haag, which would still be on its way to a (narrow) victory. The substitutions still brought danger, a cross from Henk Veerman and a good shot from distance from Ideho, which was beautifully saved by goalkeeper Brondeel, but it remained very poor what the hosts put on the mat. The scoreboard still showed the score 1-1 after the final whistle of Alex Bos, who also whistled very poorly (he added only four minutes after about eight substitutions and two injury treatments…).
And again ADO Den Haag lost points on its own field. In the last three home matches, eight of the nine points were surrendered. The question remains whether the team will get into the right flow in time to play a role in the play-offs. Darije Kalezic’s team now awaits two away games (Monday, April 29 Jong FC Utrecht and Friday, May 3 NAC Breda), perhaps the team will be able to do more away from home.
Setups
Ado den Haag:
Martian; Absalem, Siereveld, Surmeli (12. Klas), Waem (78. Ideho), Asante, Vigen (77. Sellouki), Van Wolfgang (62. Van Mieghem), Esajas; Van der Sande (77. Veerman) and Schalk.
FC Eindhoven:
Source part; Ogenia, Wouters, Amevor, Limouri, Seedorf; Kökcü, El Bouchataoui, Dorenbosch (62. Lieder), Rottier, Simons.
