FOOTBALL – vv Hoogeveen was unable to keep his title chances in the Hoofdklasse A alive despite a 3-2 victory over Purmersteijn. Nico Haak’s team was heavily dependent on a slipper from leader TOGB, but with a 5-0 win at Velsen, the team from Berkel en Rodenrijs did not let grass grow. Hoogeveen can now focus on the post-competition.
The gap with TOGB was five points for today. Hoogeveen needed a miracle to keep a chance at the championship. First of all, the blue shirts themselves had to beat Purmersteijn, the number seven in the ranking.
Hoogeveen opened the score after half an hour of play with a nice goal from Menno Heerkes. He got the ball halfway through the half from Purmersteijn and with a nice long shot he curled the ball over the keeper of the visitors. Heerkes was also the maker of the 2-0. This time he got the ball in third instance after a corner and shot the ball straight into the corner.
Just before half time Purmersteijn did something back, but after ten minutes of play in the second half, Jamai Kriekjes broke through the defense and put the 3-1 on the board. Hoogeveen seemed to be in control with that, but quite unexpectedly Purmersteijn came back to 3-2.
Haak’s team had to continue with ten men in the last ten minutes, after Ayoub Ben Ali Ahlaq had to leave the field injured. At that point, all bills were already used up. Despite this number, Purmersteijn was no longer dangerous and Hoogeveen held on to the 3-2 lead.
Due to TOGB’s big win, the gap at Hoogeveen remains five points and that can no longer be bridged with one match to play. Hoogeveen remains second and will meet HBS next week in the last regular game of the season. This determines how Hoogeveen will enter the post-competition.