SC Heerenveen - VVV-Venlo
VVV-Venlo’s objective was to collect a point at the Abe Lenstra Stadion and they indeed left with one from Heerenveen. Both the home team SC Heerenveen and VVV-Venlo had difficulty in scoring, but both teams finally managed in the closing minutes of the match: 1-1.
Right from the kick off SC Heerenveen came out with all guns firing to try and take an early lead. The only player with any chances was former VVV-Venlo team-mate Gerald Sibon, but clever footwork by Kevin Begois defeated his shot. SC Heerenveen did their best, but as a team they clearly missed the necessary self confidence.
In this type of situation, the answer should be in simple solutions. And not in reacting like Paulo Henrique’s persistent attempts to beat the opposition. Despite this, the home team still had a couple of chances, but Begois’ excellent deflection of a header from Roy Beerens and Keisuke Honda’s instinctive reaction to a shot from Goran Popov kept the scoreboard clean. Without encountering any real problems, VVV-Venlo entered half time.
VVV-Venlo – fielding the same squad that narrowly saw defeat at the hands of FC Twente with 2-1 – failed to take advantage of the space they were given in the mid-field during the first half. Ruben Schaken broke away from his defenders a few times and defender Michael Timisela also had a good chance to score, but his powerful shot was parried by Brian Vandenbussche.
Trainer Jan de Jonge’s dismay at his team’s efforts was shown by him warming up the two attackers Michal Papadopulos and Oussama Assaidi. Assaidi came on right after half time and Papadopulos fifteen minutes into the second half. Heerenveen again started by playing an attacking game, but after just ten minutes the storm abated and the first shot at goal was for Keisuke Honda.
Twenty minutes before time, Keisuke Honda was awarded a free kick from a great position. A stylish save by Brian Vandenbussche converted the shot to a corner. Jan van Dijk then made a double substitution by replacing the duo Achmed Ahahaoui and Niels Fleuren with Diogo Viana and Jasar Takak . VVV-Venlo seemed to in dominance and even saw the best chances. VVV-Venlo kept attacking, but shots from Sandro Calabro and, five minutes before time, from Diogo Viana failed to reach the net. SC Heerenveen seemed powerless to respond.
Just as the game was drawing to a close, the away supporters were rewarded for their long journey. Inattentiveness by SC Heerenveen gave Schaken a perfect opportunity to cover the pitch and pass a wide shot to Calabro, who this time passed the keeper Vandenbussche : 0-1. VVV-Venlo made a concerted effort to keep ahead, but was unlucky. In injury time Michal Papadopulos equalised: 1-
SC HEERENVEEN – VVV-VENLO 1-1
88. Sandro Calabro 0-1, 90. Michal Papadopulos 1-1. Match Official: Van Meenen. Crowd attendance: 25850. Yellow cards: Christian Grindheim (SC Heerenveen) and Sandro Calabro (VVV-Venlo).
Brian Vandenbussche; Daryl Janmaat, Michel Breuer, Michael Dingsdag, Goran Popov; Christian Grindheim (81. Hernan Losada), Michal Svec, Viktor Elm;
Squad VVV-Venlo:
Kevin Begois; Michael Timisela, Frank van Kouwen, Patrick Paauwe, Niels Fleuren (71. Jasar Takak); Ken Leemans, Keisuke Honda, Adil Auassar; Ruben Schaken (89. Kevin van Dessel), Sandro Calabro and Achmed Ahahaoui (71. Diogo Viana).
