FC Den Bosch did not manage to win the first match in the battle for promotion on Wednesday evening. The play-off match against Almere City started well for the residents of Den Bosch, but a 2-0 halftime score was turned around in the second half into a 2-3 victory for the visitors. FC Den Bosch must win in the return on Saturday to still have a chance of promotion to the Eredivisie.
Captain Teun van Grunsven is disappointed with the way FC Den Bosch gave away the lead. “It seems like everyone gets shit in their pants when we concede a goal. In the second half we just walked backwards, which made them believe in it.”
It is not the first time that the people of Den Bosch have given up a lead. Recently, a 0-2 lead was also given away at TOP Oss. Coach Ulrich Landvreugd acknowledges that it is a problem. “But that is something I prefer to discuss internally. We had to chase the ball a little more, which caused our strength to fade.”
On Saturday, the residents of Den Bosch will have the opportunity to put things right. “We first have to look critically at the second half. Because this is simply dropping through the lower limit and if you go to Almere that way, you can put it out of your mind,” Van Grunsven concludes.
It started so beautifully
After the smoke had cleared and the banner on the M-Side had come down, the kick-off took place in a fairly full De Vliert stadium. FC Den Bosch opted for the attack from minute one. The visitors from Almere were lurking on the counter, which resulted in the first big opportunities. For example, Kevin Felida took a ball off the line and captain Teun van Grunsven also had to block a dangerous shot.
After fifteen minutes, Boyd Reith had the ball in his own sixteen on behalf of Almere City. He just didn’t realize that the lightning-fast Kévin Mozialo was hitting his back. With a clever push he stole the ball from Reith and put the Congolese Sebastian Karlsson Grach in front of an empty goal. The Swedish striker did what he had to do: scored the 1-0.
Shortly after the Bossche goal, the visitors became dangerous again. A shot by Marley Dors hit the post and FC Den Bosch goalie Pepijn van de Merbel had to intervene. In any case, it was a very open match and it was actually a miracle that only one goal had been scored after half an hour. Teun van Grunsven had an open header chance on behalf of the home team, but nodded just over.
But it didn’t stop at just one goal in the first half. Just before half time it became 2-0 in De Vliert. An almost identical goal. This time Emmanuel van de Blaak had the ball stolen from him. Monzialo did not give in this time, but shot beautifully into the roof of the goal from a very difficult angle.
Den Bosch is giving it away
After the break it was Den Bosch’s job to maintain the lead. Something that has not gone well several times this season. And now FC Den Bosch also had to concede a goal in minute 57. A cross was headed in by Almere striker Ferdy Druijf. Van de Merbel stopped the header with a beautiful reflex. However, the ball got stuck in the goalmouth and Joey Jacobs was the first to reach it on behalf of Almere to make the score 2-1.
Ten minutes later it was Ferdy Druijf again with a header. This time he extended a free kick, leaving Van de Merbel with no chance and the score being level again. After that, it was mainly a matter of holding back for FC Den Bosch. And that also went wrong. Just before the end, a long ball fell at the feet of Almere player Dors, after which he scored the winning goal.
The return will follow on Saturday in Almere. Kick-off is at two o’clock and Den Bosch must win to advance to the next round of the play-offs.
