champion!
Champion with flying colors!

Den Bosch D2 - PSV D2
March 19, 2011
1-8

The match
Still with a little more excitement in our legs than usual, we prepared for the away match against Den Bosch. Of course the D2 will be champions, well before the end of the league and already a street length ahead. But as Hanneke next to me says, you just have to do it every time.

With a lovely early spring sun, the championship match will be played at the cozy complex of Den Bosch. At home we had won easily 7-1 as Den Bosch attacked freshly but forgot to keep the defense shut. But... DB is in second place and today could be a very different game.

Our D2 seems to start a bit nervous. Some more mistakes in passing than usual and DB comes through dangerously. After Ruud is pulled forward well, there is a gap in the back and DB can become dangerous on the right. With an extreme effort Jordan closes the gap. Some more optimistic defending and DB get a few more chances. As so often this season, the balls do not go in. That says a lot about the defense and especially about our goalkeepers Pepijn and Arne who are there when it counts.

The D2 recovered and took the game to themselves. The difference in strength turns out to be big after all. On the wings Steven and Amar are time after time too quick for their direct opponents. The midfield is taken possession of where Hus, Baggio and Robin work well together and distribute the game expertly.

A nice thing about the D2 game is that there is a lot of variation. The first chance comes when James, as right back, steams to the back line (like no other James can do), crosses the ball but the ball flies just past everyone and everything. Moments later it is a winner.

Well defended, Hus picks up the ball, passes to Baggio and he manages to launch Amar with a splitting pass. Our phenom Amar flashes past and finds Cody who manages to extend his huge goal production with another goal. Steven also shows himself at the other end, a rush towards goal and the DB defender is just too late to intercept the ball and hup Steven flies over the outstretched leg. The extremely well-managing referee has no choice but to put the ball on the spot. Hus puts himself behind the ball and on technique calmly into the corner: 0-2.

The pace quickens and DB begins to gasp for breath. In the back, playing around is elevated to an art. Armando reigns supreme and Pepijn can almost always pass the ball to Armando or else to Jordan.

In front, Cody tried to score the goal of the century with a 20-meter shot from Hus, but of course not everything can always work out. The chances followed one after another. At the other end, DB also showed their worth, playing fresh football. Just like at the Herdgang, the DB players do not dig in and that is a compliment for this nice team. So that also means space in front, and with our fast wings that is a big danger. Amar rushes past once again, cross and DB only manages to work the ball into their own goal at the back. At the other end Steven again, the ball is crossed, some pinball work and the last station is Robin who also gets his goal. Still 0-4. The referee whistles for half time.

With Arne on goal, Luc at the back and Roland at the left forward, PSV continued undaunted in the second half. In phases, the best game of the day is now being played on the still tricky turf. The combination play that has become the hallmark of the D2 this year is on display again from the side. The fifth goal soon falls again when Amar (DB's left back just has to think he wasn't the only one this year who couldn't keep Amar in check) manages to find Roland. Roland always makes these kinds of chances and that's number five.

And it still turns into another solid defeat for DB when Cody manages to find Amar and he can make the sixth via a clever ball. The injured Justin and Lars also get to play their part and come in. Justin has been resting with some groin problems, but fortunately can play pain-free today and shows why he was allowed to be the captain of the team this year. Quick in the combination, doing a lot of work and technically strong.

The best goal of the match then follows. Jordan sets up a rush. Passes one, one more and then he is already ready to pass the ball but oh why not. Only two more flown by and a streak into the long corner. Superb goal and the 0-7 is a fact.

Lucky for DB that the hateful 0 disappears from the scoreboard from a corner kick. In all fairness DB did sell themselves short, the defeat was justified but they could have scored a single goal more. Only also in the second half the PSV defense manages to put in an extra effort when it is really necessary and prevent goals. So it is Luc who manages to prevent dangerous situations several times in the second half on speed.

Lars also pulls forward, also has a beautiful goal in mind from about 25 meters but unfortunately for him the ball goes past the goal. The eighth goal is again a picture. Robin with a splitting pass to Amar. The goalkeeper who got in well a few times before is now too late and Amar can easily score the eighth.

And then after...
The D2 did not look like a team that has just become champion. It all went a bit too easily for that. But once Kees from PSV has given a nice talk, all the boys have received a trophy and then each player (!) has received a bottle of champagne (the real champagne d'HEMA), has been uncorked and squirted around, the championship is celebrated in grand fashion.

Great fun to then throw trainers Bastiaan and Martin, team leader Bas and physio Koen in the shower. They try to escape, but chased by a horde of half naked PSV boys, they don't make it and appear later with wet hair at the parents.

At PSV it is then a championship cake to eat, then fries and a snack. At the end of the day, after watching the A1 in the sun, the team traveled to the bowling alley in Eindhoven where the boys threw balls and the parents reviewed the past year.

With happy faces, everyone went home around six. The end of a day where the championship was celebrated in great style. Parents and coaches, super thanks for another great championship celebration!!! Boys congratulations for an already super season.
As Bastiaan said, football is a team sport and you have fulfilled that in a wonderful way this year.

Hans Bosma