Final No. 11.
Today at the new (not quite finished sports park) against AZ. Also a candidate for the scale. For us it is a matter of taking the three points and waiting to see what happens in Tilburg.
We start this match on a sun-drenched day. The focus is there. We start well. The tempo is high and the game is well organized. We are actually the superior team. (A bit warm with this weather).
After twenty minutes Dirk steamed up on the right and to finish he shot the ball scorching hard into the ropes. 0-1. Now we have to push on. A quarter of an hour later Matthias went on an adventure and came out on the left, went inside and scored the well-deserved 0-2. What euphoria on the bench. What excitement and what warmth.
Keep going now. Philippe and Lennerd got another chance but the score remained the same for a while. But then something changed. Just before half time the striker of AZ brings the score to 1-2 and the tension is back in the game and on the bench. Halftime 1 - 2.
After the break we played very well grouped and AZ did not get through. We also get some nice opportunities but Dirk and Matthias don't manage to find the net. Dirk's chance might have been hands but the ball was shot from so close range that there was no question of an intentional handshake.
Meanwhile, the reports from Tilburg are also such that it is important to hold on and take the points. Karim makes it exciting in injury time (7 minutes ) but the referee puts the ball just outside the sixteen for a free kick for alleged hand play (according to many followers this was unjustified).
The free kick produces nothing and then the referee finally whistles for the end.
Now there is still ONE final to come. Next Tuesday at Papendal (sports park of Vitesse) against the also always difficult AJAX.
Now that we have come this far, we also want that last one. We have to take the cup to Eindhoven. After all these years it is now time we take it.
So good luck Tuesday and everyone knows it's possible.
And as the saying goes: he who does not dare, remains a virgin.
See you on Tuesday.
Bye.

van Osch, Abels, Kardes, Carolina, Bannani, Rigo (84th Hattu), Konings (89th Naciri),Rommens, Lammers (87th van der Moot), Verreth, Daneels (71st Duarte).