For the first time since November 17, Telstar has won a competition again. Under the leadership of the new coaching duo Uli Landvreugd and Anthony Correia, the White Lions took their first victory in nine matches. Helmond Sport was defeated 3-2 at Sportpark Schoonenberg.
After the noisy week at Telstar, number 14 Helmond Sport visited. Uli Landvreugd and Anthony Correia are in charge until the end of the season after the dismissal of Mike Snoei. They immediately made a number of changes. Zakaria Eddahchouri is still injured for a few weeks and Mitch Apau was suspended. Peter Guirani lost his starting place and so the White Lions started with Danzell Gravenberch, Devon Koswal and Youssef el Kachati.
Although Landvreugd had announced that he would play more offensively, the approach to the game was fairly similar to last week. Yet Telstar took the lead after just over fifteen minutes of play. Youssef el Kachati, who scored his first goal for Telstar last week, scored his second of the season from a good long ball from the back: 1-0. The Velsen team showed up well, but had to concede a goal just before the half hour mark. Monnickendammer Martijn Kaars, the top scorer of the first division, put the 1-1 on the scoreboard.
Goal fest
In the phase after the goal, Telstar had a difficult time. However, they took the lead again ten minutes before half time. El Kachati is completely loose and scored his second of the evening on a pass from Jay Kruiver. Telstar was completely loose and even made it 3-1 just before half time. Christos Giousis hit the target and was involved in a goal for the first time this season.
After the break, Telstar continued to play the same game, but it became nonchalant. As a result, it played into the hands of Helmond Sport. It had the biggest chance through Gianni-Fivos Botos. His effort was deflected and landed on the roof of the Telstar goal.
Butt pinching
The home team became dangerous a number of times with a long ball. Gravenberch was close after a good pass from Koswal, but goalkeeper Wouter van der Steen saved. Koswal made a mistake halfway through the second half. He had to give away a penalty to Helmond Sport, but Koeman Jr. made a good save on Kaars’ effort. The visitors still scored the tying goal. Ten minutes before the end, Alvaro Marin put the 3-2 on the scoreboard. It was then a turn for the worse for Telstar, which stayed on its feet and took the victory.
Thanks to the victory, Telstar takes away from last place in the first division. It passes TOP Oss and is now nineteenth. Next Friday Telstar will receive a visit from NAC Breda.
Telstar setup: Koeman Jr; Kruiver, Koswal (Guinari/79), Oude Kotte, Peat Kruier; Bakker, Overtoom, Plat, Giousis (Seedorf/66), Gravenberch (Van den Heerik/66), El Kachati (Van de Loo/79)