With the lightning-fast Ernest Poku and Jayden Addai on the sides, both ex-AZ, Jong coach Reiziger tried to speed past the stiff Slovenians on Friday evening. A touch of magic from prodigy Kees Smit, which national coach Ronald Koeman spoke highly of this week, and the first victory in this European Championship qualifying cycle should be a fact.
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The Dutch Juniors are not convincing
But those Slovenians, last in the group with one point from three games, did not simply allow themselves to be put aside. The Dutch Juniors, who returned to Leeuwarden after thirteen years, were having a hard time with the team before halftime. This was partly because the visitors stayed stuck in their own half and the Dutch talents lacked creativity.
Among the Dutch Juniors, only Ernest Poku (21) from Bayer Leverkusen meets the Ronald Koeman criteria
A shot from Poku flew wide, Addai just missed the short corner and Ezekiel Banzuzi could not reach the ball after a cross from Gjivai Zekiel. Basic debutant Devin Haen (Willem II) was also unable to make any progress in the first half. Not even after the ball was placed perfectly by Smit and Addai passed the ball a little later after a good action.
The Dutch Juniors take the lead with ten men
After the break, the Dutch Juniors immediately gained steam and the team had a number of chances, when Wouter Goes and goalie Tom de Graaff attracted all eyes. The AZ defender wanted to let the ball go for De Graaff, but he then knocked Leo Rimac about ten meters outside the sixteen. A direct red card and the debut for PSV keeper Niek Schiks.
In a soaking wet and windy Kooi Stadium, the Dutch talents nevertheless continued their search for the opening goal. And that came about thanks to Zekiel. The FC Utrecht player finished calmly fifteen minutes after the break after being completely free in the penalty area.
Poku decides duel
Despite the one-man situation, the visitors had nothing to contribute, while the Dutch lacked a good final pass. The match seemed to be dying, until Poku decided to take a swing and hit the ball in via the underside of the crossbar: 2-0.
Reiziger and co will do well against a defensive Young Slovenia and the team will head to Hungary with five points from three games, where the match against Israel will be played on Tuesday.