The report
The last topper of the year 2017 was scheduled today for O17, also the last game of the year. Apart from the honor, nothing was at stake. Feyenoord were safely in second place and we just as safely a place behind them. Nevertheless you always want to win these games! With that attitude we started the match.
The game got off to a quiet start, until the 6th minute. Feyenoord came in front of the goal but Maxime managed to save handsomely. Two minutes later Sekou came in through action, but his shot did not cause any problems. The first serious chance came after just under 15 minutes. Ian and Mo combined through the Feyenoord defense. Ian eventually unleashed a shot that took the keeper enough trouble to turn it into a corner. That corner landed right on the head of captain Shurandy, who put us up 1-0. The two minutes that followed showed that Feyenoord were impressed by this. We played in Sekou, who cleverly rounded his man and looked for the far corner with his left. That the shot was touched on the way didn't come amiss for us. 2-0 after 16 minutes of play, great start! The game continues and we are better, more dangerous and create more. The biggest chance, however, is for Feyenoord. The striker is sent deep, circles Maxime and thinks he can score in an empty goal, but Mathijs was back just in time to prevent this. From this big chance a quick counter followed from which Yorbe almost scored, but the goalkeeper managed to save. So we went to rest with a good feeling and a 2-0 lead.
After halftime, the level from both sides drops a bit. Very flat from both sides, although Feyenoord came out slightly better than we did. The better opportunities are for the Rotterdammers. It is difficult to get out from under the pressure and this leads to a number of chances against, the most dangerous being a ball on the bar. After about a quarter of an hour things evened out a bit, and we too managed to create some chances to make it 3-0. However, the goals remain out. Until the 69th minute. A cross from the right side of Feyenoord is too high for the Rotterdam striker to reach with his head. Yet the ball disappears into the goal behind our goalkeeper. 2-1. Protests do not help, bewilderment all around. The ball was hit in with the hand (of god) but the referee was unable to establish this. Unfortunately, but we will still have to work to keep the lead. We get chances to run out again, but we don't succeed. Yorbe tries with an overhead kick, Sekou with a slide, but the ball doesn't go in. And if you don't score the goal yourself.... A pass to the Feyenoord captain allowed him to go for Maxime alone. He does not miss this opportunity and slides it in a controlled way into the far corner. 2-2. This would also be the final score.
Based on the first half we deserved more, based on the second half not really. We can take the learning points out of it and start getting ready for the second half of the season where we will fight for the national championship.
Setup: Maxime Delanghe; Ian Maatsen, Mathijs Bel, Mees Kreekels, Shurandy Sambo, Damian Timan, Andi Koshi ('40 Elgero King), Mohamed Ihattaren; Nigel Thomas ('70 Dennis Vos), Yorbe Vertessen and Sekou Sidibe.