A hard-fought draw
Saturday morning six-thirty. The alarm clock rings and sleepily check the weather outside. No way, it snowed again.... It can't be happening again, can it? Mobile phone on, computer on to check if there have been any cancellations but it remains quiet. On the way we expect a phone call but it remains quiet and when we arrive at the Herdgang stadium, we hear that after 3 (!) previous cancellations we will be playing against VVV.
Arriving in Venlo at the atmospheric little stadium of VVV, I understand the reason for the cancellations; the complex of VVV is situated in a pit (De Koel in Limburg dialect) which explains why the (real) grass fields have to be disapproved quickly when it rains. Fortunately, we can play today across the street at the Venlo amateurs.
VVV D2 have put up an excellent series of last matches in which they also managed to knock off the unbeaten table leader Roda D2. So the boys were warned and it will be an exciting game of football. There was a lot of fight from the start, and left and right players had to be patched up after yet another injury. The football is physical, but also very sporty from both sides.
Right from the start, the D3 went on the attack. Enthusiastically the boys run forward but when the attack is repulsed it appears that there are few left behind. VVV placed a razor-sharp counter. Stan managed to parry the first shot but was defenseless on the rebound; 1-0. VVV is stronger with a slight tail wind and the D3 struggles to leave their own half. The defense holds up well again though and continues to look for footballing solutions at the back. VVV has a field superiority but doesn't really manage to create that many chances.
At the end of the first half, a copy of the first minute. PSV comes out, pulls forward, an interception and wham, another lightning fast counter. On the edge of the 16, Armando has no choice but to use the emergency brake and a free kick. If the ball is placed high ... And yes, the ball flies high to the goal and Stan, jumping with all his might, just does not manage to get enough fingers against it, 2-0 and deservedly so.
The D3 now slowly starts to get a grip on the game and manages to move the game forward more. A corner kick and our right back today James can also be found in front of goal. That will be it, says Harald next to me. Beautiful corner kick on top of the crown of James who kicks impeccably. See also the beautiful photo of James in Harald's report who indeed saw it coming like a professional photographer.
The second half is full of excitement and thrills. The game undulates back and forth, and all the players give what they have. It is Cody who knocks and tussles, finds a hole and shoots the ball high into the goal from about 20 yards. Surely the somewhat taller goalkeeper has no answer for that either, and so the equalizer falls. The D3 and the D3 supporters go wild, we didn't expect this after the 2-0 deficit.
You could say, now build in a bit more security but fortunately the teams do not. There are big holes in the back, then it's PSV that comes out threateningly and a moment later VVV is back in front of a few PSV players who are still behind. But they defend themselves like lions. Lars stays calm and watchful at the center back, and on technique manages to repel many attacks. And if there really is a breakthrough, there is still Arne who manages to keep his goal empty. In front of the D3 it is just not happening every time, with an impurity in the final pass or just offside, and so it remains 2-2.
A nice result of a match that made the long journey worthwhile.
Report with thanks to Hans Bosma