Once upon a time there was a beautiful sunny day in Belgium. A match was programmed for our boys against a Belgian third division team, which in the Netherlands corresponds to the series below first division.
The D3 had already shown their hunger for football against Rot Weis Essen. There was no question of underestimation, they went all out for the second win. This succeeded, and how....
The personal actions are still a joy to watch, but combinations are also seen more and more.
After 6 minutes of "probing" a first goal followed. Rafael's cross was worked into his own goal by a home defender. 0-1. the start of a goal festival.
The combination of Lars to Bjorn and then to Ruud, with a distance shot by our "white head" splattered on the goal post, bad luck for Ruud, the rebound by Robin went just wide.
Huseyin with a brilliant action and then a nice opening to Ruud ( with the heel ) cross backwards to James and the "Captain" deliciously pops the ball in from about 20 meters. 0-2.
After 15 minutes James gives direction and pass to Ruud, back cleverly laid back from Ruud to James, but he decides on the back of a defender.
We don't have much time to watch the E-tjes ( who play on the field next door ), because another cross from Robin, perfectly tailored for Roland is another goal, as our super striker nods the ball in nicely. 0-3
Shots follow from Bjorn and Luc..., but again it is the James-Ruud interplay that hits the mark. 0-4.
PSV is now camping on the half of Hoogstraten. A kick from the goalkeeper is intercepted by Roland, pass to Steven Bosma who has just stepped in and he finishes dry with his left. 0-5.
It goes fast, very fast. Because 1 minute later it is already 0-6. This time Cody and Roland found each other, Roland made his second of the evening.
And it's not over yet, because 1 minute later Bjorn on Steven, great cross to Roland and his number 3 is a fact. 0-7.
To somewhat outline the situation Arne had his first ball contact in the 29th minute ( a return ball ). One minute later we went to rest. Boring stuff for a goalkeeper.
Half-time score 0-7
The second half Stan starts in goal, his first ball contact follows after only 2 minutes, he would not see the ball again until the referee blows the whistle. Boring for a goalkeeper.
Less boring was it for our strikers. Roland has something very nice in mind on a cross from Luc and he treats the crowd to a successful omelette, although this piece of art went just wide, And the parents enjoy all this goodies, yes, even those from Hoogstraten enjoy.
Minute "5" in the second half is Luc's, he hits the ball hard from 250 meters. Well, at least from 25 meters. A beauty! (but there were more like it today). Meanwhile we are at 0-8.
A cross from Robin is missed by everyone, but not by Steven. 0-9.
Yet another kick from the home goalie (who has nothing to reproach himself for, by the way) ends up with Jordan, in one go to Roland, and then you know it. 0-10.
Then Hoogstraten still tries to do something back but with defenders like Lars, Armando, James, Bjorn and Luc, Stan doesn't even have to take his hands out of his pockets. On the contrary, it is Steven who sees that the home goalie is a little too far out of his goal and lobs magisterially over him. Genius! 0-11
After a cross from Raphael to Luc, who thinks, what Steven can do, I can do as well and with a copy goal (another lob ) he puts in the 0-12.
Hoogstraten who first really got over the center line late in the second half are caught cold on a PSV counterattack. Cody taking the ball, keeping a good overview and playing it in appropriately to Luc and he puts the 0-13 on the board, immediately also the final score.
The two scouts Gerrit and Dirk, who traveled with us, watched and saw that it was good.
It has to be said, Hoogstraten was a bit too little for this eager D3 group. But they tried, despite the level difference, to make the best of it.
This credit to the players and coaches of Hoogstraten who, by the way, made it a very sporting game of football.
Report with thanks to Joël Lekens