NEC - VVV-Venlo
After the fifth game of the season VVV-Venlo came home from
For the first 30 minutes VVV-Venlo controlled the game precisely as trainer Jan van Dijk planned and when the chance presented itself, changed tactics and switched up a gear at just the right moment. In the 32nd minute Niels Fleuren’s ball sent Achmed Ahahaoui forward. He smoothly passed the ball to Keisuke Honda, who lobbed the ball with perfect precision onto the head of the ready and waiting Sandro Calabro. Calabro then scored his third goal of the season: 0-1.
The home crowd got behind NEC at the start of the second half. Their show of support had the right effect and resulted in the equaliser. Ken Leemans managed to clear a corner from NEC but the ball ended up at Ramon Zomer’s feet. His swift reaction converted this chance into a goal: 1-1.
The home club rallied together and took control of the game. For the next fifteen minutes VVV-Venlo had to struggle to prevent another goal from the opponents. Dennis Gentenaar was kept on his toes with two attacks at goal in ten seconds. He first stopped a shot from Lasse Schöne and then used a fantastic reflex to deflect the next attempt by Moestafa El Kabir.
In the final stages of the game VVV-Venlo could relax slightly. NEC lacked the stamina to mount a full scale attack on VVV-Venlo, so the final whistle signalled the fifth successive draw. The next fixture is in two weeks time, when VVV-Venlo meets Heracles Almelo at home.
There were smiles all round after the match. A lot of the glory is due to Dennis Gentenaar- whose clever work in the goalmouth ensured the point for his team. “Saving is exactly what I am there in the goal to do – stop any balls crossing the line. We can be pleased with this result.”
Trainer Jan van Dijk was happy with the score and complimented his players. “In the premier league tactics are all important, which keeps it an exciting challenge for the trainer. The team did well to keep control of the match to start with and grab the chance to score first. We were well organised in the first half, but NEC put us under a lot of pressure in the second half.”
Saturday 29 August 2009
NEC
32. Sandro Calabro 0-1, 51. Ramon Zomer 1-1. Match Official: Winter. Crowd attendance: 12500. Yellow cards: Mitchell Burgzorg + Moestafa El Kabir (NEC Nijmegen), Ken Leemans + Michael Timisela (VVV-Venlo).
NEC
Gabor Babos; Mitchell Burgzorg, Rens van Eijden, Ramon Zomer, Youssef El Akchaoui; Lasse Schöne, Arek Radomski, Lorenzo Davids; Erton Fejzullahu, Björn Vleminckx (89. Patrick Pothuizen) + Moestafa El Kabir (66. Rutger Worm).
VVV-Venlo:
Dennis Gentenaar; Michael Timisela, Sjors Verdellen, Patrick Paauwe, Niels Fleuren; Adil Auassar, Ken Leemans (81. Kevin van Dessel), Keisuke Honda; Ruben Schaken (73. Diogo Viana), Sandro Calabro (90. Ferry de Regt) + Achmed Ahahaoui.
