Red and a penalty against: FC Emmen makes things unnecessarily difficult for themselves at Helmond Sport, but ultimately wins 1-2

Become more businesslike, be more ruthless, decide a match earlier. That was the task that coach Fred Grim impressed on his men during the competition-free international period.

It turned out that it fell on deaf ears. Against Helmond Sport, an opponent that the people of Emmen have not won very often in history, Grim’s team was lord and master in the first half. Then things got a bit more exciting.

Jari Vlak almost scored the first in the first minute

Already in the first minute, Jari Vlak, who scored four of the last six Emmen goals, was close to the opening goal. His effort from a difficult angle was just converted into a corner kick.

Rui Mendes was active and dangerous, but the right winger once again lacked sharpness in front of goal. For example, he did nothing with a ball that Piotr Parzyszek put back to him after about ten minutes of play. The Dutch Pole would have been better off taking a swing himself or trying to outwit goalkeeper Wouter van der Steen with a clever ball.

Vlak and Mendes as declarants

However, as a pointer, the German Portuguese on the flank was again invaluable. Halfway through the first half it was scored for the first time and that was largely thanks to Mendes. Vlak put it away on the right, Mendes crossed and through Vlak again the ball ended up at the feet of Ahmed El Messaoudi, who scored hard, low and dry: 0-1.

Even after that, Emmen dominated and the home team did not make it very difficult for goalkeeper Jan Hoekstra. The tall Emmer closing post did not have a single shot on target in the first half. There were little teases, headers that looked threatening, but the Emmer defense ruled the air.

El Messaoudi as general

El Messaoudi was busy offensively. Like a general, the Moroccan Belgian made beautiful passes and regularly found himself in scoring position. Mendes missed two good chances, but Parzyszek scored in a wonderful moment, in the very last seconds of injury time.

Mike te Wierik prepared that goal. The right back who came along shot from the edge of the penalty area and Van der Steen was able to turn the tide, but not Parzyszek’s tap-in: 0-2.

Hardeveld misses in front of an open goal

Jeff Hardeveld, who took the place of the sick left back Lorenzo Burnet, could have ended the game early in the second half. The Delft resident received the ball on a silver platter after keeper Van der Steen had played the ball too far in front of him. But Hardeveld missed in front of an open goal.

FC Emmen seemed to be able to afford that miss, because until that moment Helmond Sport had hardly been able to create a chance.

Dirksen causes the duel to explode

But the ball is round and that was certainly the case in Brabant, where Julius Dirksen suddenly exploded the match. He unnecessarily knocked down Anthony van den Hurk and received his second yellow card from referee Gerrets. He had also received the first unnecessarily in the first half due to a foul in midfield. Helmond Sport striker Martijn Kaars made no mistake from eleven meters: 1-2.

Helmond Sport smelled blood and now took aim at Emmen’s goal. First Van den Hurk almost successfully converted and a little later Kaars fired much too high for Hoekstra.

Grim responds

Grim responded by taking Parzyszek out for Robin Schouten and also sacrificing Ubbink for more certainty: Dennis Vos came into the team for the left winger. Helmond Sport dictated the rest of the game with one man more, had chances through substitute Elmo Lieftink (blocked) and many scrimmages with a total of fourteen Helmond corner kicks.

Emmen was no longer involved, but Helmond was. The best chance was in injury time for Hakon Lorentzen. the Norwegian lashed out with his left, but Hoekstra saved. In the very last seconds, Michael Heylen took another bet off the line: it was a tough game for twenty minutes, but the three points went to Emmen…