Whatever this competition failed to succeed in, the team of coach Jos Luhukay managed to do with a visit to Jong FC Utrecht: VVV went off the field at the end of this competition with a 2-3 win at Sportcomplex Zoudenbalch.
Only when VVV took the lead for the third time on Friday evening in the game against the Utrecht talents, the victory was a fact.
‘hateful 0’
With that, the Venlo club managed to grab points in the nick of time this season against a promise team. And now finally freed from the ‘Young curse’. All previous matches against Jong AZ, Jong Ajax, Jong PSV and the home match in Venlo against Jong FC Utrecht were lost.
battered
With injuries to Brian Koglin and Sem Dirks, the Venlo team missed the heart of the defense in Utrecht. Right back Tobias Pachonik was suspended and Stan van Dijck was not completely fit. Add to that the longer-injured Tristan Dekker and Richard Sedlacek and it was clear that Luhukay and Jay Driessen had to puzzle over to put together a balanced team. Keeper Lukas Zima was allowed to replace regular goalkeeper Dylano van Crooy in this last competition match.
First half
After two good but missed opportunities for Utrecht talents Mohamed Mallahi and Sanches Fernandes, it was the VVV that took the lead after almost twenty minutes. Nick Venema opened the score, 0-1. That score was not long on the scoreboard. The equalizer came in the 24th minute via Mees Rijks. Young Utrecht wanted more and created several opportunities, but the attempts lacked precision or were caught by VVV goalkeeper Zima.
In the 33rd minute the goal came surprisingly on the other side Mitchell van Rooijen scored against his old club and brought VVV to 1-2. Joep Kluskens was then close to his first goal, but the score remained unchanged until the break.
after tea
Both teams started the second act unchanged. That was barely five minutes old when Mohamed Mallahi just scored the equalizer: 2-2. The most dangerous man on the Utrecht side and goalscorer then missed the next chance. VVV took the lead for the third time of the evening. Sven Braken brushed the 2-3 behind goalkeeper Thijmen Nijhuis in the 62nd minute. This time, Luhukay’s team no longer gave up the lead and closes the 2021-2022 competition with a three-pointer.
Anonymously
VVV-Venlo relegated to the first division at the end of last season, together with FC Emmen and ADO Den Haag. ADO will play play-offs this season, FC Emmen is champion and is promoted to the Eredivisie. VVV, on the other hand, has an anonymous season and finishes tenth in the left row. That is (certainly from a sporting point of view) disappointing.