Partly thanks to an unprecedented free kick from Laros Duarte, FC Groningen won 2-1 against Jong FC Utrecht on Friday evening. Due to his selection in the Cape Verde pre-selection for the Africa Cup, it may take a while before Duarte is seen in green and white again. And there is even a chance that his work of art against Jong FC Utrecht was his last achievement for the club.
Duarte made a few fruitless attempts from distance in the first half against Jong FC Utrecht on Friday evening. When the goal was conceded, the midfielder claimed a negative role. It was his sloppy back pass that defender Marvin Peersman choked on, offering Jong FC Utrecht a free passage to Hidde Jurjus’ goal.
After an hour of play, Duarte made up for his mistake in an unprecedented way. He took a position behind the ball during a free kick, which was only a few meters in front of the goal line. With a beautiful kick he curled the ball hard through the inside of the intersection into the goal.
‘I was shocked at how beautiful he was’
“I wanted to make up for my mistake,” Duarte said after the match against Jong FC Utrecht about his equalizer. “I immediately thought that I wanted to shoot. At first I wanted to ram it along the wall into the short corner, but then I saw Peersman make a gesture that I should hit the ball hard. Then I decided to choose the far corner. I hit it nicely and when I saw the ball leave I thought it might be a goal. I was shocked at how beautiful he was. I think I’ll see it again twenty times in bed tonight.”
Ten minutes after Duarte’s goal, Postema gave FC Groningen the win with a precise slide. “Fortunately we were able to turn the tide in the second half and I had a share in the victory,” said Duarte. “It was a difficult match for us. The intensity and pace were lower than in the match against Willem II. That may have had something to do with the match that was close to this one.”
Africa Cup
Duarte has been the man in form at FC Groningen in recent weeks. The national coach of Cape Verde also noticed, who included Duarte, together with his brother Deroy, in the pre-selection for the upcoming Africa Cup. “Our first dream was to play together at Sparta and to be promoted. Competing for our country at the African Cup together with my brother is the second dream. That seems to be coming true now.”
If Duarte is included in the final selection, FC Groningen will in any case have to miss the midfielder in the cup match against Excelsior and the competition matches against FC Emmen and Jong Ajax. And if Cape Verde surprises, the absence will last even longer.
Leave or stay?
Whether Duarte will return to Groningen afterwards is far from certain. He already had a wish to leave in the summer and that has not disappeared. “After a transfer did not go through in the summer, I was able to make the switch quite quickly. It was especially important to return from my injury as quickly and as well as possible. That fast didn’t quite work out, but I feel good now.”
Other clubs have also noticed this. “There are a few things going on,” Duarte revealed. “Some nice things too. I don’t really want to make any statements about it yet. I already wanted to leave in the summer and if something nice comes along now, I will think about it. Yet I also have the feeling that I can still play many great matches for FC Groningen until the summer. Leave or stay, both scenarios are fine.”