It was all or nothing today for Hovocubo and it didn’t work out. The futsal players from Hoorn lost the third and decisive match for the national title against FC Eindhoven. Hovocubo lost 3-1 in the city of light.
After Hovocubo’s win in the opening game and last Friday’s narrow Eindhoven victory, the national champion futsal would be announced today. Both teams apparently were not weighed down by the great tension and made it an exciting game from the first whistle.
At Hovocubo, Sander van Dijk was back on the line. The trainer of the Hoornse club was missing from the first two games due to a suspension and sad family circumstances. For that reason, he would also stay home for the last game in the best-of-three. At the last minute, Van Dijk decided to be there today to support his team.
Details make the difference
The success coach saw that the game was played on the cutting edge and that it was the details that made the difference. Hovocubo was the first team to benefit. Hicham Aklalouch was the end station of a brilliant attack: 0-1.
Text continues below the video.
Sander van Dijk: “I can’t blame my players” – NH Sport
FC Eindhoven, which finished the regular season as the list leader, quickly came alongside again. A free kick by Zakaria Amrani went with some fortune behind Hovocubo goalkeeper Dave Stet: 1-1.
Both teams were evenly matched in the second half. Opportunities abounded, but this time FC Eindhoven struck. A quick counter was completed by Ayoub Boukhari who made it 2-1.
A summary of the game between FC Eindhoven and Hovocubo will follow later on this website. The summary can also be seen on TV at NH Sport on Monday at 5.10 pm.
In the last five minutes Hovocubo fought for what it was worth. Just like Friday, Noureddine Oulad Ben Youssef came in as an extra field player instead of Stet. The surplus situation gave Hovocubo great opportunities. Manuel Kuijk, the goalkeeper of Eindhoven and of Orange, grabbed some beautiful balls. FC Eindhoven punished a wrong pass by Hovocubo in the last minute. Said Bouzambou was the man who shot the ball into the empty goal: 3-1.
Text continues below the video.
Hovocubo captain Mats Velseboer: “Apparently this is also part of sport” – NH Sport
After the final whistle, the party erupted in the sweltering sports hall in Eindhoven. It was the first national title for the home team since 2015. For Hovocubo, a series of three national titles in a row will come to an end.