MVV has achieved a creditable 1-1 draw against Excelsior. In a very entertaining game, Mart Remans scored for the team from Maastricht.
MVV has not been able to achieve a home win since October 15. But after a good performance at home, the players of Maurice Verberne will feel like the moral winner of the evening.
False start
Where last week it was already possible to cheer against Jong Utrecht in the second minute, there was now dismay because of a major blunder by goalkeeper Romain Matthys. Matthys processed a simple back pass much too slowly, so that the ball bounced into the goal when kicking through Reuven Niemeijer.
Quick equalizer
After this dramatic opening, it was all the more clever that MVV immediately equalized in the sixth minute. Toshio Lake gave a low cross where goalkeeper Stijn van Gassel stayed on the line. Mart Remans made easy use of this and was able to tap the ball in at the far post.
Revenge Matthys
After the equalizer, MVV was even the better team until the 20th minute against the number four of the Kitchen Champion Division. It provided an opportunity for Arian Kastrati who was preferred over top scorer Mitchy Ntelo. In the 23rd minute Matthys was able to make up for his mistake. Again Niemeijer came close to Matthys’ goal. His shot into the short corner was cleverly turned and thus prevented another deficit.
entertainment
Despite the fact that no more goals were scored, the entertainment value in the Geusselt was high. Excelsior became more and more dangerous on the right during the first half. But thanks to Matthys and the defense a goal could be prevented. On the side of MVV, the most danger was via Kastrati in the first half. He was played well a number of times but was unhappy in the finish.
flashing
Whether it was the fault of substitutes Leroy Labille and Roland Alberg remains a mystery, but MVV had two beautiful attacks immediately after the resumption. First Nicky Souren was able to hit the ball on goal after good combinations, with Van Gassel making a good save. A minute later it was a long shot by Marko Kleinen that sailed close to Excelsior’s goal.
Matthys in error again
Unintentionally, Matthys once again became the man of the evening. Because in the 61st minute he again made a flashy mistake with the ball at the foot. Just like in the second minute, he kept the ball at his feet for too long, so that Niemeijer snatched the ball. Only Niemeijer gave the ball to top scorer Thijs Dallinga, who was offside, so that to Matthys’ relief the goal was rejected.
Entertaining
The match remained entertaining until the end in the Geusselt. Both teams continued to play for the win and created excellent opportunities. The biggest chance on the side of MVV came in the 73rd minute for Sven Blummel. Remans came to the back line and withdrew the ball, Blummel having the perfect opportunity, but shot just wide.
Red card
In the 83rd minute there was a red card for Excelsior defender Redouan el Yaakoubi. He knocked down substitute Ntelo just outside the box. MVV thus had ten minutes to optimally reward themselves for their displayed game. Again it was Blummel who got the biggest chance, but for the second time in the final phase he couldn’t get a deserved victory.