FOOTBALL – A legitimate result, that’s what FC Zuidlaren trainer Kenny Koning calls the scoreless draw against The Knickerbockers on Saturday afternoon. Both teams had a handful of opportunities on a sun -drenched sports park in Groningen, but left them unused.
The first chance of the game is for the Groningen people, who are also stronger in the first half than the guests from Drenthe. Koen Holtman will accidentally get the ball for the feet, but an excellent rescue of wing defender Jon Schutte prevents the early lead. He seems to come ten minutes before the break, after a deep ball from goalkeeper Sietse Vissers on Roel Batema. The latter completes controlled, but according to the assistant referee from Zuidlaren is offside.
In the second half there are the biggest opportunities for FC Zuidlaren. The first is an imposed, for the engine in the midfield of the guests: Harold Kwant. He is played in the depth, checks the ball carefully and wants to pass fishermen through the legs. But the keeper of The Knickerbockers closes the sticks just in time. Moments later it is again fishermen who keeps his team going at a beautiful distance pile of right back Robbin Markus. Not much later, Thijme Dieterich suddenly gets the ball in front of his feet about seven meters from the goal, but fishermen is the situation again.
FC Zuidlaren is the most scoring team in 3R Saturday. But why Koning knows why the Knickerbockers did not succeed. “It has to do with sharpness, I think. And some balls have to create you instead of shooting. That happens, but I think it is a justified result. The game was in balance. They were better in the first half. We were clearly upper in the second half, but then you have to make one. If that doesn’t happen, it will remain 0-0.”
Koning thinks that the denouement in 3R will be very exciting. Logical, because pursuers Wildervank and Veendam 1894 both won their duels on Saturday afternoon. Wildervank was 5-1 too strong for Borger’s closing. Veendam won 4-0 against Aduard 2000. That makes it unknowingly exciting at the top of the rankings, where four teams are still fighting for the title.
How Koning will ensure that the champion bibs do not strike at FC Zuidlaren? “That is of course difficult, because we have a young team. If we continue to play football, the goals will also come again. We just have to make sure that we are at the top at the end of the ride,” the head coach concludes.