FC Eindhoven finished third in the regular competition, but ADO should have been in that place for sporting reasons. The residents of The Hague, who were deducted six points due to financial issues, still finished fourth with that points penalty and are doing well in the play-offs. After the elimination of NAC Breda, the second opponent from Brabant also had to believe in the sold-out Jan Louwers Stadium with 4200 spectators.
power play
ADO Den Haag is an opponent that does not suit FC Eindhoven. In the regular season, Rob Penders’ team also lost 4-2 and drew 1-1 at home. Last Tuesday, the people from Brabant showed in the initial phase and after the break that they can master ADO playing football, but that they have a lot of trouble with the power play of the physically strong ADO.
With referee Bas Nijhuis as leader, the ideal condition was present for ADO to make it a physical match in Eindhoven with many duels on the edge. The well-maintained footballing FC Eindhoven dominated the match in the first fifteen minutes, put ADO under pressure and got a good header chance via Valentino Vermeulen, but the first chance for the team from The Hague was in it.
And who else but Verheydt signed for that goal? The physically strong striker, who had impressed in The Hague with a handsome header from a great distance, was now the end station of a quick counter, after FC Eindhoven had taken too much risk and lost the ball in midfield. Verheydt can boast of great statistics in his best season ever with 36 goals in 41 games. A great foreign adventure beckons for the wardrobe on football boots, but the ADO supporters hope to keep the favorite and let them hear ‘Thomas must stay’ in Eindhoven.
In a seat
A finisher like Verheydt was missing at FC Eindhoven, which put down neat and technical football on the mat, but was not decisive enough towards the enemy goal. Before the break, the field dominance was not expressed in many opportunities, while sloppiness in the back put ADO in a seat. Collin Seedorf scored the second goal in The Hague with a sleazy own goal (a header that went through the legs of goalkeeper Nigel Bertrams): 0-2. With that, the battle was already decided after 26 minutes.
After the break, FC Eindhoven at least tried to get rid of the hateful zero from the scoreboard and Jort van der Sande, who will play for NAC Breda next season, and Jasper Dahlhaus, for whom there is a lot of interest from the Eredivisie, were still close to scoring. Goalkeeper Hugo Wentges, who was still missing last Tuesday due to illness and was then replaced by Alessandro Damen, did not have it anymore, although he was still beaten by Mawouna Amevor in the final phase. The best offensive action from The Hague of the second half came in the name of Sem Steijn. The next season, playing midfielder for FC Twente, ravaged the post with a flaming shot.
big bloodletting
Due to the double defeat, FC Eindhoven, which has been active in the Eerste Divisie since 1977, adds at least one season to the record series of the team that waits the longest for promotion to the highest level and brings that series to at least 46 years. It will not be easy for trainer Penders to match the great performances next season. Not only has the Kitchen Champion Division gained two wealthy clubs with PEC Zwolle and Willem II, Heracles Almelo may also join this group. In combination with clubs such as NAC Breda, Roda JC, De Graafschap and VVV-Venlo, this results in a heavy occupation. Moreover, there are significant bloodlettings. Besides Van de Sande, top scorer Joey Sleegers will also leave. De Helmonder, who scored 24 times in forty matches, enjoys the interest of many clubs and only considered signing a new contract with FC Eindhoven if the Blauw-Witten were promoted.
ADO still has that chance. Reaching the final of the play-offs is a great success for Giovanni Franken, the unqualified trainer of the Hagenaars who defies the fines to stay on the bench. It looked bleak for ADO for a long time this season due to all the financial problems and the vicissitudes surrounding the takeover, but the eventful season can still have a happy ending. For that, the people of The Hague have to clear one more hurdle.
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