FC Groningen finally has something to celebrate again. This substitution gives northerners the victory

FC Groningen’s hopes were entirely based on the outcome of the last matches. Trainer Dick Lukkien has repeatedly recalled in recent weeks that in his view the upward trend started at the beginning of this month during the home match against FC Dordrecht, which ended in 2-2. This was followed by the away match at Roda JC, where the northerners drew 0-0 despite three goals. Finally, during the international match, Premier League side Heerenveen was defeated in a practice match.

The data

Lukkien was strengthened by the data in his belief that the pieces of the puzzle were falling together. Despite the disappointing ranking at the bottom of the middle bracket, FC Groningen is the club in the first division with the most shots per match towards the enemy goal and the most ball contacts in the opponent’s penalty area. Moreover, Lukkien’s men concede the fewest shots and their opponents also come close to the Groningen goal the least often of all clubs in the first division.

There is only one statistic that speaks against FC Groningen. In terms of shot conversion, shots that turn into goals, the Groningers are almost at the bottom. “But if we keep playing football like this, the goals will come,” Lukkien said last week.

It was reason for the Veendammer coach not to change the line-up against FC Eindhoven. Even captain Leandro Bacuna, who had recovered from an injury, was able to take a seat on the bench, alongside Laros Duarte and striker Kevin van Veen, among others.

Highlight Peersman

In the opening phase, Lukkien seemed to get it right. FC Groningen played fresh and pushed FC Eindhoven back into their own half. There were no more than a few shots until the eighteenth minute arrived. Jorg Schreuders saved a corner with a shot that was tapped wide by the keeper with his fingertips. The corner kick that followed waved away, but with a beautiful heel from Marvin Peersman, FC Groningen set course for goal again. Thom van Bergen brought the ball in front of the goal, where Radinio Balker was ready to score.

Instead of continuing after the opening goal, FC Groningen slowed down after the 1-0. The Eindhoven team still barely managed to score, but with a little help from the northerners themselves, the equalizer was easily achieved.

After a throw-in, FC Groningen tried to defend, but Jorg Schreuders made a hopeless mistake. The midfielder, who has been rated so highly lately, mowed over the ball. Eindhoven resident Jasper Dahlhaus immediately lashed out. Because Balker was still on the ball along the way, goalkeeper Hidde Jurjus had no chance: 1-1.

Red card

In the second half the chances seemed to turn in the home club’s favor again when FC Eindhoven found itself with ten men. Mawouna Amevor briefly held Romano Postema, who was on his way to the goal. He ended up in the red. FC Groningen still did not enforce enough. The audience chanted Kevin van Veen’s name for several minutes. Fifteen minutes before the end, trainer Lukkien finally changed tack.

That turned out to work out well. FC Groningen started a siege on the Eindhoven match with Van Veen and Leandro Bacuna and Laros Duarte, who also came on. The winning goal was inevitable. It was a shot from Duarte that caused the Euroborg to explode minutes before the end. Van Veen touched the ball and claimed that he had scored the goal, but that was too much of a good thing. The joy was no less. Finally a victory could be celebrated again and people wanted to know that.