FOOTBALL – The Dutch Juniors, with Emmenaar Kjell Scherpen under the bar, have taken a big step towards the European Championship in De Adelaarshorst in Deventer. Against the talents from Switzerland, they won 2-0, after a 0-0 halftime score.
Because of that result, the Juniors have place 1 in the group, and therefore direct placement, completely in their own hands. The Dutch Juniors lost their good starting position last Friday due to an unexpected draw against Young Bulgaria.
The Dutch Juniors deserved to win tonight, although the assignment did not get any easier when defender Wouter Burger was sent off the field with two yellow cards (and therefore red) fifteen minutes after the break. With ten against eleven, trainer Erwin van de Looi’s team had to survive a short phase, Kjell Scherpen made an excellent save, after which substitute and debutant Elayis Tavsan (player of NEC) became the hero of the evening. With two hits, he shot the Dutch Juniors to victory.
position
Young Switzerland is still in the lead in the group with 19 points from 8 matches. The Netherlands follows in second place, with 17 out of 7. Moldova is number 3, but already has no chance with 11 out of 8.
Three more matches
The next European Championship qualifying match will be played by the Dutch Juniors on June 3 against Moldova, after which Gibraltar waits at home four days later and the qualifying series will be concluded with Wales on June 11.