Work to be done for FC Emmen after a difficult match against VVV Venlo

Fred Grim had a surprise in store for Friday night. The trainer, who turned 58 last Thursday, preferred Robin Schouten in the right back position. And that while a few days before the game he hinted at a place on the bench for FC Emmen’s newest acquisition. Was that throwing sand in the eyes of the competition? Who knows. It was clear that Mike te Wierik became the right central defender and Michaël Heylen, who was still a basic customer last week, could call himself the child of the bill.

Grim’s choice seemed to work out well at first. Schouten, known for his offensive impulses, steamed up on that right side several times. Goal attempts did not yield this, because the balls he passed did not arrive, but the intentions of Grim and his aides were clear: to create chances. Something that was still lacking last week when visiting SC Cambuur. The visitors clearly had a hard time in the initial phase, were pushed back, but remained upright. At least, until the 14th minute.

VVV Venlo turns it around

Te Wierik split open the Limburg defense with a watched pass from behind and served his teammate, Patrick Brouwer. The right winger rushed off with it and pushed the ball through the legs of VVV goalie Jan de Boer. De Fries, who was still under contract with FC Groningen until recently, saw the ball chatter against the ropes with a bewildered look. The more than seven thousand spectators in stadium De Oude Meerdijk seemed to get their money’s worth early on this summer evening.

They couldn’t enjoy it for long. Barely 5 minutes later, VVV Venlo scored the equalizer. Soulyman Allouch was given the space to give a cross, which then passed everything and everyone and fell in at the far post. Goalkeeper Jan Hoekstra was nailed to the ground. It got even worse. After more than half an hour of play, Allouch scored again. The technically gifted attacker curled the ball in from the left again at the far post in a beautiful way, this time clearly consciously.

Victory FC remains out

Where Schouten started the game so promisingly, he could count on VVV Venlo’s second goal: the North Hollander gave Allouch too much space. Although it must be said that he received no form of backing. The two-clapper had completely turned the game around. VVV Venlo played with renewed courage, FC Emmen hardly created anything anymore. A player like Jari Vlak, the captain, incidentally, regularly suffered careless loss of possession. It was as if the home team could no longer find the gear forward.

Things didn’t get much better in the second half. If FC Emmen wanted to profile itself as a promotion candidate, then there was little evidence of this for a long time. Bringing in Lucas Bernadou and debutant Desley Ubbink, among others, seemed to be of no avail. Until fifteen minutes before the end, when a cross from Ben Scholte landed at the feet of Piotr Parzyszek. The Polish striker punched in quite easily. It was FC Emmen that then claimed the most victory with countless opportunities, but it failed to materialize.

There’s work to be done

And with that, the second draw of the season was a fact for the team from Drenthe. Although Bernadou’s substitution and the strong final phase offered perspective, there is plenty of work to be done for Grim and his colleagues. As well as for the stadium manager, by the way. Because just like the team, the dated Oude Meerdijk showed a number of flaws on Friday-evening. Where the scoreboard failed in the first half, a partly defective and loudly screeching sound system caused the ears to ring several times during the match.