The finish line is getting closer and Telstar is not yet where it wants to be. The current ninth place is just not good enough to qualify for the dessert of the football season: the play-offs. The away game against ADO Den Haag, the number thirteen in the ranking and a competitor for those play-offs, awaits tonight. You can follow the match live on the radio at NH Sport.
Earlier this season, both teams held each other in Velsen-Zuid after ninety minutes balanced (0-0). ADO Den Haag was then still led by Dirk Kuijt. Under the leadership of his successor Dick Advocaat, ADO has found its way up, but whether that spurt has been started on time and hard enough, will only become clear at the end of the ride.
Form
Of the last five league matches, ADO only managed to win at TOP Oss (2-3). The matches against FC Den Bosch (0-0) and FC Eindhoven (1-1) ended in a draw, while Heracles (0-3) and Willem II (1-3) won in The Hague.
Telstar has been doing better in recent weeks, although the defeats against Heracles (7-0) and FC Eindhoven (0-1) still hurt and the loss of points against Helmond Sport (2-2) was unnecessary. A visit to Roda JC was won nicely (1-2) and the game against TOP Oss (1-0) also yielded three points.
Quartet goals
A striking fact is that Telstar visited The Hague 28 times in club history and only twice left the royal city with a victory in their pocket. The first time was in 1983. Thanks to goals from Ron van Niekerk, Koos Kuut and Terry Hendriks (2x), it became 3-4 in front of only 500 spectators in the Zuiderpark. Telstar also won in 2000 by scoring four goals. Richard Stricker, Jamal Dibi and Sergio Ommel (2x) gave the team of then coach Simon Kistemaker a 4-1 victory.
Koen Blommestijn, Cain Seedorf and DJ Buffonge are missing from the Velsenaren tonight. Christos Giousis is suspended. The kick-off is at 8 p.m. Reporters are Frank van der Meijden and Stephan Brandhorst. NH Sport is there from 7 pm to 10 pm and is presented by Robbert van den Heuvel.