In Velsen-Zuid it is noticeable that for the first time this season a top club is visiting Telstar. The stadium is completely sold out and due to a lack of sufficient parking space, the sidewalks in the surrounding neighborhoods are full of cars. Despite the last place, Telstar supporters have the feeling that it is possible against Feyenoord. Their club already performed strongly against Ajax and PSV earlier this season. They even won against the national champions, which is probably the case against Feyenoord.
The Telstar staff enjoys these types of posters just as much, although at the same time everything is done to maintain the reputation of a cult club. This is what sounds through the speakers during the match when the home team hits the ball out of the stadium. A joke from the stadium speaker, who announced in the 39th minute that the first yellow card of the match, for Feyenoord right back Bart Nieuwkoop, would be offered by a law firm, should Nieuwkoop want to legally challenge the card.
Telstar is having a hard time on the field in the opening phase against Feyenoord. Already in the second minute, Telstar goalkeeper Ronald Koeman Jr. an own goal by his defender Neville Ogidi Nwankwko, after Nieuwkoop can easily pass through on the right side of the penalty area. Koeman Jr. keeps his team on its feet more often in that part of the match. The son of national coach Ronald Koeman previously stated that he finds it extra special to excel against clubs where his father worked.
Ping pong table
Feyenoord knows that it must win after four defeats in a row if it wants to remain in the title fight. Earlier in the afternoon, PSV easily won against FC Volendam (3-0). If Feyenoord loses again on Sunday afternoon in Velsen-Zuid, PSV will be no less than nine points ahead of the Rotterdam team.
Just before the match against Feyenoord, Telstar coach Anthony Correia already expressed his appreciation for the dominance of the Eindhoven team. He does this in the press room, where PSV – Volendam is broadcast and a ping-pong table serves as a desk for the journalists present. “We actually woke them up,” Correia jokes about PSV, referring to his own team’s stunt. At the end of August, Telstar defeated the national champion at home 0-2.
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Telstar hopes for a new stunt against Feyenoord, knowing that the team will perform strongly against strong opponents this season. Of the five teams that finished at the top of the Eredivisie last season, Telstar drew against FC Twente (0-0) and FC Utrecht (1-1). Although they lost to Ajax (2-0) and AZ (2-1), Telstar had control of large parts of the match in both matches and had chances for a result.
Telstar also shows that brutality against Feyenoord, although the audience has to wait a while for that. In the course of the first half, Feyenoord loses control of the midfield, formed this afternoon by the three internationals Oussama Targhalline (Morocco), Luciano Valente and Quinten Timber (Netherlands). Feyenoord coach Robin van Persie passes his captain Sem Steijn, who also had to sit on the bench earlier in the cracker against PSV. Despite all the international experience in Feyenoord’s midfield, Telstar is getting plenty of pressure, especially through the energetic starter Tyrone Owuso. Two years ago he played for the amateurs of Quick Boys, like so many players from the Telstar selection.
Just as Telstar pushes for the opening goal, it falls on the other side. Feyenoord striker Ayase Ueda is passed the ball with his back turned in the penalty area. He receives the ball, turns away and scores the 0-1 through the leg of Telstar defender Guus Offerhaus. Shortly after the opening goal, Gijs Smal gets a great chance to make it 0-2, but it is again Koeman Jr. who saves Telstar.
Adult
After an hour of play, Anis Hadj-Moussa, who was constantly whistled at by the Telstar crowd, seemed to decide the match with the 0-2. Hadj-Moussa had received strong criticism from Van Persie last week, who accused the dribbler of not doing enough defensive work. After the match against Telstar, Van Persie was flattering for Hadj-Moussa, who played “very maturely” in the eyes of his trainer.
In the 82nd minute, when Feyenoord is still stalling and Telstar mounts a final offensive, a special moment takes place. Robin van Persie gives his son Shaqueel his debut in the Eredivisie. He did not ride with his father for the match, because he had to be at the club earlier, 19-year-old Shaqueel van Persie said after the match.
The talent cannot crown his first Eredivisie minutes with a goal. In fact, he has to watch as substitute Telstar striker Kay Tejan revives the hope of a stunt in the stands by scoring the 1-2. Telstar pushes Feyenoord back – illustrative of this is how the battle-weary midfielder Owuso pins Jordan Lotomba, who had recently come on, around his own corner flag.
Meanwhile, the home crowd celebrates the added six minutes of injury time with loud cheers, but the equalizer will not be scored. Once again Telstar was close to a win, but once again the team suffered a defeat by a minimal margin.
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