Tag Archives: Eredivisie

Week 20 Eredivisie Report – Feyenoord fall, PSV defeat AZ

January 26, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

SATURDAY 25TH JANUARY 2014

A few shocks in Saturday’s Eredivisie games with title challengers Feyenoord losing points and relegation battlers ADO and Roda gaining them.

ADO DEN HAAG 3-2 FEYENOORD

Maurice Steijn walked out of the Kyocera Stadion on Saturday a happier man as he saw his ADO Den Haag side defeat title-chasing Feyenoord, to lift his men off the bottom of the league table.

It was Ronald Koeman’s men that were more dangerous early in the match but failed to score during their domination. The closest they came was a great chance for the lively Jean-Paul Boëtius after 16 minutes. A long ball came out of midfield from John Goossens landed at the feet of Boëtius, but unfortunately for the young winger, Tom Beugelsdijk placed Boëtius under sufficient pressure that the Feyenoord man smashed his shot into the side netting. The 19-year-old had a further chance ten minutes later but shot straight at goalkeeper Gino Coutinho.

As the half went on, ADO started to get into the game more and went a goal ahead on 36 minutes. Aaron Meijers was bundled over by Bruno Martins Indi on the right-wing and from that free-kick, Danny Holla crossed for Mike van Duinen who won a corner. Holla whipped in the corner that met a Tom Beugelsdijk header that sailed past Erwin Mulder in goal, the big defender was being poorly marked by Lex Immers.

The goal took the confidence out of Feyenoord and in first half stoppage time they found themselves another goal down. Surging down the right was ADO full-back Dion Malone, he planted in a dangerous whipping cross and Danny Bakker got in front of the visitors defence to place home a glancing header.

Koeman’s team-talk fired up Feyenoord and they pressed from the restart. It was not until the 68th minute before they a goal back. From a Goossens corner, striker Graziano Pellè (reasonably quiet until now), held the ball up to play into Jordy Clasie’s path on the edge of the area. The tenacious midfielder lashed a ball home to fire up the away crowd.

The tails were up for Feyenoord and ADO were against the ropes trying to protect their lead, but to no avail as the game was tied six minutes later. Meijers turned the ball over to Clasie on the edge of the box and the ball fell to Immers to the right of the area. Immers played in a low cross towards Graziano Pellè and the Italian does not miss from five yards out and it was 2-2.

From the restart, ADO began to play the ball and three minutes later they took the lead again, and won the game with the best piece of movement all match. Holla again involved crossing into the feet of Roland Alberg on the edge of the box, and with beautiful link-up play, Alberg played an excellent one-two with Van Duinen to finish elegantly.

A bitter blow for Koeman and his side’s title chances but a vital three points for the hosts today in their relegation fight.

TEAMS

ADO: Coutinho, Malone, Beugelsdijk, Zuiverloon, Holla, Meijers, Bakker (Kanon 87), Van Haaren, Alberg, Schet (Merencia 90), Van Duinen.

SUBS NOT USED: Zwinkels, Wormgoor, Gouriye, Buwalda, Cabral.

GOALS: Beugelsdijk 36, Bakker 45, Alberg 77

BOOKINGS: Alberg, Schet

FEYENOORD: Mulder, Janmaat, De Vrij, Mathijsen (Nelom 55), Martins Indi, Clasie, Immers, Goossens, Boëtius (Te Vrede 83), Pellè, Schaken (Armenteros 46).

SUBS NOT USED: Lamprou, Verhoek, Bakkal, Van Beek.

BOOKINGS: None

NAC BREDA 1-2 PEC ZWOLLE

As the rain lashed down in Breda, Ron Jans celebrated extended his contract for another year leading his side to a great 2-1 win away to NAC Breda.

It was a game of few chances but Zwolle went behind on 20 minutes with an excellent finish from NAC’s Joey Suk. Danny Verbeek crossed from a free-kick on the left and after an aerial scramble to the ball right for the striker to acrobatically volley home.

Zwolle fought to get back into it and should have been level through Guyon Fernandez on 37 minutes. Great link-up play Kamohelo Mokotjo and Ryan Thomas played Fernandez in the area, the striker did well to turn his defender and a shot away but unfortunately dragged the effort just wide of Jelle ten Rouwelaar’s goal.

It took a penalty just after the restart to get the visitors level with Guyon Fernandez converting after Anouar Hadouir fouled Mokotjo in the box.

Zwolle stole the game in controversial fashion on 75 minutes. It was a tremendous goal by Mustafa Saymak who hit the ball from 35 yards out that gave Ten Rouwelaar no chance, but the goal should not have stood. Video replays after the game proved that seconds earlier, substitute Thanasis Karagounis had took the ball out of play on the right wing but the assistant referee missed the call.

TEAMS

NAC: Ten Rouwelaar, De Roover, H. Drost, Buijs, Van der Weg, Gilessen (Hooi 81), Suk, Hadouir (Tighadouini 74), Sarpong, Poepon, Verbeek (Perica 67).

SUBS NOT USED: Babos, Kwakman, Swerts, Bodor.

GOALS: Suk 20.

BOOKINGS: None.

ZWOLLE: Boer, Van der Werff, Broerse, Van Hintum, Van Polen, Mokotjo, Klich, J. Drost (Karagounis 45), Fernandez, Thomas (Mahmudov 65), Saymak (Gravenbeek 89).

SUBS NOT USED: Begois, Benson, Hiwat, Labylle.

GOALS: Fernandez 50, Saymak 75.

BOOKINGS: Klich 83.

RODA JC 1-0 FC UTRECHT

Jon Dahl Tomasson clinched his first win as Roda manager on Saturday evening sending Jan Wouters’ Utrecht to a fourth consecutive league defeat.

Wouters should have seen his side take the lead on 12 minutes, but Tommy Oar failed to guide Yassin Ayoub’s great through ball on target.

Tomasson has to re-jig his side after a mid-week defeat in the KNVB Beker to AZ Alkmaar. In that game, Hungarian striker Krisztián Németh was stupidly sent-off after charging into a referee, which has gained him a five-match suspension. In his place in this game was Vasil Shkurti, a 21-year-old Albanian striker only appearing in his second game for the club. However, it was the Albanian that nearly grabbed Roda the lead on 23 minutes, but Utrecht ‘keeper Robbin Ruiter was on his usual top form protecting the goal.

Just after the half-hour mark, Roda scored the only goal of the game. The man in-form for the Kerkrade side is Guus Hupperts, and he showed his worth again to Tomasson in this game. After Mitchell Donald robbed Kai Heerings of the ball and played in Shkurti, the Albanian flick the ball onto the on-rushing Hupperts at the right of the box and the winger slammed the ball home past Ruiter.

Utrecht barely bothered opposition goalkeeper Filip Kurto and Wouters will need to spark in his side and quick before they are dragged into the relegation battle.

TEAMS

RODA: Kurto, Dijkhuizen (Monteyne 39), Biemans, Van Peppen, Sutchin, Donald, Luijckx, Kali, Paulissen (Hocher 81), Shkurti (Pluim 68), Hupperts.

SUBS NOT USED: Prus, Ramos, Bonevacia, Jacobs.

GOALS: Hupperts 23.

BOOKINGS: None.

UTRECHT: Ruiter, Markiet, Derijck, Heerings, Van der Gun, Sarota, Diermers (Agudelo 59), Toornstra, Ayoub, De Ridder, Oar.

SUBS NOT USED: Verhoeven, Martensson, Bjelica, Klaiber, Van Velzen, Badjeck.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: Heerings.

PSV 1-0 AZ ALKMAAR

After a great showing at the Amsterdam Arena in their close 1-0 defeat against rivals Ajax last Sunday, PSV returned to winning ways with a great win over AZ Alkmaar in Saturday’s evening game with the same scoreline.

Phillip Cocu saw his team explode out of the blocks and were 1-0 up after just three minutes. The relentless PSV attack bombarded the AZ goal with shot after shot with pinball like effect. Eventually after Santiago Arias, Ji-Sung Park and Memphis Depay saw shots blocked, the ball fell to left-back Jetro Willems at the edge of the area, and his tame long range effort crept past Esteban to put the hosts ahead.

Cocu can thank his goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet for the three points as the 22-year-old pulled off save after save for his side. His most vital, was his first on 12 minutes. From a corner, Jan Wuytens emerged at the near post and back-heeled flicked the ball towards the goal and once the ball had ricocheted off the post, Zoet bravely palmed the attempt away out of the AZ preying attackers.

PSV had their chances to further the lead and win the game comfortably. With 18 minutes gone, Adam Maher latched onto a long ball from Willems and volleyed towards goal but the attempt raised to high to bother Esteban in goal. Also, on the half-hour mark, Stijn Schaars spotted Arias sprinting down the right-wing and when the young Colombian found himself one-on-one with the Costa Rican goalkeeper, he smashed his effort into the side netting.

AZ pressed after the break and Zoet’s gloves were kept warm, denying them time and time again. Most notably, Johann Berg Gudmundsson combining well with Aron Johansson but both were unable to find the leveller.

PSV held on and grabbed a vital three points in their chase for a Europa League place in the top four. Dick Advocaat will be disappointed with his return to the Phillips Stadion but look forward to next week’s game hosting Groningen to get back on track.

TEAMS

PSV: Zoet, Arias, Willems (Hendrix 67), Rekik, Bruma, Schaars (Hiljemark 79), Park, Maher, Depay, Locadia, Ruiz (Narsingh 90).

SUBS NOT USED: Tyton, Zanka, Bakkali, Brenet.

GOALS: Willems 3.

BOOKINGS: Depay, Willems.

AZ: Esteban, Wuytens, Gouweleeuw, Viergever, Reijnen, Elm, Gudmundsson (Lewis 73), Gudelj, Ortiz (Henriksen 80), Beerens, A. Johansson.

SUBS NOT USED: De Winter, M. Johansson, Gorter, Haps, Avdic.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: Wuytens, Reijnen, Gudelj, A. Johansson.

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EREDIVISIE

Week 20 Eredivisie Report – Heracles end RKC’s run

January 24, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

FRIDAY 24TH JANUARY 2014

Week 20 of the Eredivisie began with RKC Waalwijk’s undefeated run of six games ending with a 2-1 away defeat to Heracles Almelo. Erwin Koeman’s side have not lost a game since early November in a 5-2 thrashing at Heerenveen.

HERACLES 2-1 RKC WAALWIJK

The hosts pressed for the majority of the first half, not giving RKC much chance of an attack, and Heracles nearly went ahead on the half hour mark if it were not for Arjan van Dijk in the RKC goal. After Imad Najah fouled Simon Cziommer on the edge of the area, the German midfielder stepped up and smashed the ball towards goal. It was a fierce effort but Van Dijk got across his goal to tip over.

The deadlock was broken before half-time and it was Bryan Linssen once again on the scoresheet. The ever lively Iliass Bel Hassani was tormenting RKC defence throughout and fire a ball across the goal on 39 minutes, Ben Rienstra’s sliding effort was denied by Van Dijk but unfortunately for the goalkeeper the ball fell to Linssen to notch his sixth goal of the season.

Shortly after the break, Heracles extended their lead. After some great work twisting and turning the left side of the RKC defence, winger Mikhail Rosheuvel swung a high ball into the box where Mark Uth met with a header, unchallenged by the two on looking Waalwijk defenders who were blaming each other for not marking.

RKC’s newest signing Daniel de Ridder made an appearance just after the hour mark replacing the Sander Duits, and a few minutes later his new side were handed a lifeline. It was a fortunate goal for Damiano Schet, the winger lined up a free-kick to a similar position to Cziommer’s in the first-half and hit a low drive towards Remko Pasveer’s goal. The ball ricocheted off the legs of the Heracles wall and diverted past the helpless Pasveer.

The visitors should and could have claimed a point in the dying embers of the game but Robert Braber blared an easy chance over the bar.

Heracles held on in the late stages to claim all three points to lift them up to ninth at this point, while RKC drop into sixteenth just two points adrift of the basement spot.

TEAMS

HERACLES: Pasveer, Schenkeveld, Dorda, Davidson, Te Wierik, Bel Hassaini (Bruns 78), Rienstra, Cziommer, Rosheuvel (Tannane 70), Linssen, Uth (Powel 85).

SUBS NOT USED: Telgenkamp, Quansah, Van Dijk, Belterman.

GOALS: Linssen 41, Uth 54.

BOOKINGS: None

RKC WAALWIJK: Van Dijk, Van Hoevelen (Anderson 81), Apau, Gouano, Amieux, Najah, Duits (De Ridder 65), Braber, Sno, Schet (Beaugel 88), Joachim.

SUBS NOT USED: Seda, Ivens, Jungschlager, Lamey.

GOALS: Schet 67.

BOOKINGS: None

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BETTING TIPS, EREDIVISIE, EREDIVISIE PREVIEW

EREDIVISIE WEEK 20 PREVIEW – Sunday

January 24, 2014 Will Burns 1 Comment

Sunday 26th January

SC CAMBUUR vs. HEERENVEEN – 11:30

Last weekend, in the battle of the promoted sides, Cambuur pulled out a great 2-0 win against Go Ahead Eagles, meanwhile, Marco van Basten’s Heerenveen were unlucky not get the win in their 2-2 home draw with Roda JC.

Sunday should prove to be a totally different story for both sides. With Heerenveen’s attack triple threat of Hakim Ziyech, Bilal Basacikoglu and the Icelandic goal machine Alfred Finnbogason, this game promises to deliver goals. Heerenveen have proved this season to have great days away from home, and are undefeated in their last four league games.

Cambuur will find it hard to cope with the speed of Ziyech and Basacikoglu and trying to make sure Finnbogason does not score is also not easy after hitting the net 18 times in just 16 games so far this season. Look for Alfred to come up trumps once again, and lead his team to victory.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Heerenveen to win (8/5 – Betfair)

VITESSE vs. NEC NIJMEGEN – 11:30

NEC Nijmegen head to Vitesse on Sunday morning failing to win their last FOURTEEN away in the league, and since Vitesse have won seven of their last eight games, I think you can see where this prediction is going.

Even though he missed a penalty last week, whether he scoring or creating, on-loan superstar Lucas Piazón is on fire. The Brazilian is hitting real form for the Arnhem and combining plays with fellow Chelsea player Christian Atsu has fired Vitesse up to second, joint on points with leaders Ajax.

NEC have conceded at least two goals in their four away league matches so my best bet for this one is Vitesse to win by two or more goals, which is a cracking 8/5 at Bet365.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Vitesse to win by 2 goals or more (8/5 – Bet365)

FC GRONINGEN vs. FC TWENTE – 13:30

Sitting in third, FC Twente are in fine form finding all three points in five of their last six games. In all those matches, Twente have been winning the game at half-time and full-time also.

Dušan Tadić, a contender for player of the season, is leading the charge with Twente searching for their second Eredivisie championship. His creativity, along with the speed and attacking prowess of young winger Quincy Promes, supplying striker Luc Castaignos is causing trouble for all Eredivisie defences.

Groningen sit nine points beneath Twente in sixth place and have only won one game in their last six, losing two. I can’t see past Twente taking all three points here and applying a little pressure to the leading pack.

BURNS’ BEST BET: FC Twente HT/FT (2/1 – BetVictor)

GO AHEAD EAGLES vs. AJAX – 13:30

The hottest team in the league are the Eredivisie leaders Ajax, with their winning streak now up to seven matches. Apart from the influential Siem de Jong, the Amsterdammers are at full strength and after overcoming a tough first half against rivals PSV last week, they travel to Deventer to face Go Ahead.

This will be no easy feat for Ajax either with the Eagles undefeated at home in the last three games including the last two winning against PEC Zwolle and Utrecht.

With Vitesse hot on their tail, Ajax need to keep racking up the wins and I cannot see this game ending their winning streak.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Ajax HT/FT (11/10 – BetVictor)

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EREDIVISIE, FEATURE

Ajax vs. PSV Analysis

January 22, 2014 Will Burns 1 Comment

In the past three years, many teams have been forced to bow before the superior quality and resilience of Frank de Boer’s Ajax. On Sunday, it was the turn of PSV. The latest Derby van Nederland in Amsterdam was an absorbing affair, with both sides playing some insatiable football and displaying great technical skill. Ultimately, the sheer relentlessness of Ajax outlasted the brave adventure of PSV; de Amsterdammers remaining stoic when faced with a half of varied Eindhoven pressure before capitalizing on a typical lapse in the PSV backline to secure victory. In many respects, this game encapsulated finely the prevailing narrative of modern Dutch football.

As a PSV fan, I knew that the season was on life-support heading into this fixture. The early season positivity created by stirring home performances and a 4-0 September victory over Ajax were distant memories, washed away in a sea of frustrating inconsistency. A spiraling decline saw Phillip Cocu’s side mired in eighth place prior to kick-off; any slim hopes of a roaring comeback after the Winter Break were dependent on victories against closest rivals. It was a must-win for PSV.

The opening exchanges provided great cause for encouragement. Cocu fielded an attacking lineup, with Bryan Ruiz handed a debut alongside Jürgen Locadia and Memphis Depay in a lively forward three. The silky Costa Rican, loaned from Fulham last week, was intelligent in possession and helped create a steady flow of attacking opportunities for PSV. Locadia steered agonizingly wide on two separate occasions; Depay, whose technical development continues to impress, diverted a whipped cross barely wide of Jasper Cillessen’s post; and Ruiz himself flashed a left-footed shot tantalizingly across the face of goal. PSV looked strong, fit and powerful in the attacking third, with strong pressure being applied. On the counter-attack, they manipulated a number of three-on-three situations, with only the finishing touch lacking. At times, it looked like Ajax would cave as PSV attacked with strength and verve. The capacity crowd became somewhat restless as Ajax scrambled to extinguish a persistent PSV threat. I was surprised and incredibly excited.

Cocu’s side also looked strong defensively. The unorthodox midfield combination of Stijn Schaars and Ji-Sung Park lacked pace in defensive transitions, but compressed gaps adequately and helped command the pivotal space between defence and midfield in which Ajax’ technical playmakers so frequently devastate. Ajax instead attempted to work an overload against PSV right-back Santiago Arias, taking advantage of Ruiz’ low defensive work rate. Viktor Fischer was lively, asking many questions with tremendous dribbling skills and incisive vision. When Jeffrey Bruma and Rekik stood strong, and Jeroen Zoet proved reliable between the sticks, this game may have started to resemble a stalemate to the neutral. However, for the purists, it was fascinating to watch another fine tactical battle between Cocu and de Boer.

During the half-time break, de Boer won that battle, and the second half proven to be a morbid postmortem of this failed PSV season. It was a half totally different to its forebear in emotion, tempo and quality. It was quintessential Ajax. I do not know what Frank de Boer said in that Amsterdam ArenA dressing room, but his tinkering resembled the work of a genius. The Ajax coach somehow managed to alter the entire pattern, narrative and outcome of this game almost instantaneously; the second half feeling like a siege from the very kick-off. It was quite remarkable that Ajax could, with the succinct influence of de Boer, rebound from a rigorous half of football into a state of utter dominance. The resounding self-confidence of this Ajax team is incredible.

As a PSV fan, I was naturally frustrated as my team became ragged and stretched but, as a football fan, one can only admire what de Boer has built. Eventually, he will graduate to the very top with Barcelona, and I cannot think of a more deserving coach. The native tribalism of this game often lends itself to hatred, cynicism and delusion. I regularly have heated football debates with Ajax fans fueled by the rivalry but, on Sunday, I had to strip all of that back. After a half of vibrant PSV pressure and a capricious change of momentum orchestrated by de Boer, I was entirely devoid of answers as to how any domestic Dutch outfit can consistently out-perform this current Ajax team. They’re just too strong.

It was torture and it was educational. Simultaneously. Ajax pressed in packs at such ferocity that PSV struggled to construct a meaningful sequence of passes. As with all world class teams, de Boer’s Ajax strike fear into opponents when in possession anywhere on the field. Even when Veltman or Moisander are on the ball, stroking it about the backline, Ajax look to be on the very verge of creating something terminal. It’s just terrifying.

Such was the case with the winning goal. In this entire Eredivisie season, you’ll struggle to find a more symbolic goal. It encapsulated the root of PSV’s problems and explained why Ajax will likely march to a fourth successive crown. Moisander plays a darting cross-field ball to the highly-impressive Lasse Schöne, whose instinctive side-foot into the penalty area exposes a fatal lapse in concentration between Bruma and Rekik. Sigþórsson nips in-between them to head home what proved to be an Ajax winner. Initially, this goal informs of Ajax’ granite-like resolve and spirited belief. They will keep probing and penetrating and working until an opportunity presents itself. As for PSV, this goal highlights the undeniable need for leadership.

The occasional brilliance of Bruma & Rekik has been regularly unhinged by such momentary lapses in concentration. Earlier in the game, both central defenders bestrode the backline with passion and intelligence, blocking shots and cutting-out Ajax passes with ease and elegance. However, the lack of a fearsome captain to preach the importance of concentration throughout an entire ninety minute game proved costly again. In dealing with such naivety, PSV are desperate for a midfield stopper in the mould of Mark van Bommel; a true captain who the younger players feel accountable to, and are perhaps even a little scared of. PSV need a quality combative anchor in midfield with the heart, intelligence and passion to provide security and inculcate a message of awareness throughout a whole game.

Since van Bommel’s retirment, those human qualities haven’t been replaced. The summer sale of superstars like Kevin Strootman, Dries Mertens and Jeremain Lens again demonstrated the importance of Champions League football to a club like PSV; the greater revenue streams opened-up by such a competition are required to acquire and keep this calibre of in-prime player. Strootman and Mertens have flourished into global superstars, with sensational performances in Serie A for Roma and Napoli, respectively. Mertens has been ubiquitous in the selection of Rafael Benítez, whilst Strootman has settled into a multi-talented midfield alongside Daniele De Rossi and Miralem Pjanić. Cocu can only yearn for such proven quality within his current squad. If PSV had a van Bommel or Strootman-type figure this season, they would still be challenging on three fronts.

Ultimately, the Ajax game resembled so many PSV encounters this season. In the first half, Cocu’s side had thrown everything at Ajax, who seem impregnable even when pressured intensely. A lively start full of youthful exuberance yielded no breakthrough, before a naïve lapse in attention let the opposition grab a goal from a most unlikely situation. Once behind, the youthful heads dropped, the tactical shape became frayed, and the opposition trampled all over PSV. Ajax rushed through a disintegrated PSV midfield, creating opportunities and taking aim at Zoet. Their only failure was in adding more goals. It was one-way traffic, with many PSV players again bypassed by the emotion of a big game. It was excruciating to watch, but this kind of scenario has become a regular hardship for PSV. The script isn’t new.

But we must continue to support our team. We must believe in the process of change embarked upon by Cocu. Of course, it hurts to lose to a fierce enemy, but all true football fans must endure to enjoy. We have watched PSV win Eredivisie Titles, play in Champions League semi-finals and thump close enemies by huge scorelines. Now, perhaps it’s the turn of other clubs and other fans to have their moment in the sun. I firmly believe that those who flee in times of darkness have no right to enjoy the eventual glory. That glory will return. Even de Boer said as much, stating his belief that “I think it will eventually turn out right for Cocu and PSV.” It’s incredibly difficult to admit that a bitter rival is plainly better than you. However, at this moment, arguing that fact would be futile. PSV must act honourably, accept the reality, and strive to emulate the kind of steely resolve on show in Amsterdam.

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EREDIVISIE

Week 19 Eredivisie Report – Ajax & Vitesse stay top

January 19, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

The Eredivisie season resumed this weekend after the winter break and Ajax and Vitesse began their new year with wins to keep them atop of the pile in the Dutch top flight.

The final game of the weekend was the world famous De Klassieker but in all fairness it was a bit of a letdown. Ajax ran out winners against PSV keeping Frank de Boer’s side on top of the division on goal difference. The visitors dominated the opening half, with Ajax on the back foot with left winger Memphis Depay shining the brightest, giving the Ajax defence a torrid time. The young Depay nearly gave Phillip Cocu’s men the lead on 26 minutes with a cute touch that crept just wide after Adam Maher had whipped in the ball.

Two minutes earlier, Jürgen Locadia should have given the Eindhoven side the advantage. Locadia arrive into box on the right, and the on-loan Bryan Ruiz placed him in with a lovely deft chip, but the striker sent his shot inches wide.

With Ajax being forced into their own half for the majority of the first 45 minutes, they relied heavily on the counter attack. After the interval, the hosts came out fighting and on 64 minutes they took the lead and it was an excellent goal. A long ball out of defence from Niclas Moisander found Lasse Schöne on the right-wing Schöne, with fantastic technique hit a first time volleyed cross into the box, where Kolbeinn Sigthórsson nodded past Jeroen Zoet for 1-0.

The goal de-motivated the young PSV side and Ajax pressed for a second, but despite efforts from Davy Klaassen and Viktor Fischer they failed to add to their score. PSV’s title challenge is dust and dusted, if it was not already, as Ajax sit joint top with Vitesse, who defeated PEC Zwolle 2-1 on Saturday evening.

It was an eventful first half with Vitesse a goal ahead after in the third minute. Ghanaian on-loan star Christian Atsu twisted and turned through the Zwolle defence, before sliding the ball home past the helpless Diederik Boer. The visitors were not in the lead for long as Guyon Fernandez notched his fifth goal of the season on ten minutes. Then three minutes later, Vitesse winger Renato Ibarra was tripped in the area, but Lucas Piazón could not place the penalty past Boer. Another Chelsea loanee sealed the win for Vitesse in injury time, with Patrick van Aanholt striding up the field from the left wing to fire home.

On Friday, FC Twente defeated local rivals Heracles by three goals to one in the Derby of the East. Quincy Promes continued his great form firing Twente in the lead halfway through the first half and Luc Castaignos doubled the advantage before the hour mark. The visitors were down to ten-men when defender Jeroen Veldmate was shown the red card but Mark Uth gave Heracles some hope when he scored on 76 minutes with a tremendous solo effort. The points were clinched with minutes to go when Luka Đorđević was brought down by Thomas Bruns and Dušan Tadić converted the spot kick.

Twente are up to 37 points with Feyenoord a point behind them in fourth. Ronald Koeman’s men showed they are still challenging for the championship thumping FC Utrecht 5-2 at the Stadion Galgenwaard on Sunday afternoon. Five goals were shared in a crazy first half and it was the hosts that took the lead when Jens Toornstra capitalised on Jordy Clasie’s mistake on 12 minutes. Feyenoord equalised four minutes later when Ruben Schaken turned in Tonny Vilhena’s shot. The best goal of the game gave the visitors the lead when Italian hitman Graziano Pellè delivered a back-heeled flick to Schaken’s cross from the right. Utrecht levelled the game up when Toornstra notched again on 22 minutes, but Feyenoord went into the break with the goal advantage with a Stefan de Vrij header. Schaken got his second on 72 minutes with Vilhena scoring the fifth with a minute to go.

Heerenveen stay in fifth place despite being held to 2-2 draw on Saturday evening with Roda JC, now managed by Jon Dahl Tomasson. Tomasson will be happy with the away point, especially when he would have feared the worst when Hakim Ziyech put Heerenveen ahead on 12 minutes. The teams went into half-time level, as Guus Hupperts’ cross was fired home by Hungarian striker Krisztián Németh. Alfred Finnbogason notched his 18th of the season after Kees Luijckx blocked the Icelandic striker in the area and Finnbogason stepped up to convert for 2-1. However, Roda did not give up and Hupperts scored the equalising goal with a great show of speed and finishing. The 21-year-old overpowered Christian Kum down the right-wing and hit a wonderful outside of the boot finish from an acute angle to score. Tomasson will look to Hupperts in the coming months to help in the relegation fight.

FC Groningen were unlucky to be held by RKC Waalwijk to a 1-1 draw on Saturday evening, with Michael de Leeuw giving Groningen the lead on the half-hour mark. However, the visitors were reduced to ten-men when debutant Hans Hateboer was shown red for a foul RKC’s Remy Amieux. RKC snatched the draw with an 89-minute Evander Sno penalty after Maikel Kieftenbeld was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area.

Also on Saturday, AZ Alkmaar defeated NAC Breda 3-0. Steven Berghuis scored a brace along with Aron Johansson goal to help AZ climb to seventh place on 27 points.

ADO Den Haag now prop up the league in 18th after suffering a 3-1 defeat away to NEC Nijmegen. Kevin Conboy hit two alongside a Marnick Vermijl effort while a Danny Holla penalty replied for Den Haag. The win meant that NEC leapfrogged ADO into 17th.

Finally, in a battle of the promoted side, SC Cambuur turned over Go Ahead Eagles by two goals to nil, with Marcel Ritzmaier scoring the best goal of the weekend. In the 18th minute, the midfielder, on-loan from PSV hit a spectacular effort from 30 yards out straight past Eloy Room in the Eagles’ goal. Martijn Barto added a second to see Cambuur rise up to 14th while Go Ahead are four points better in 10th.

RESULTS

FC Twente 3-1 Heracles

AZ Alkmaar 3-0 NAC Breda

PEC Zwolle 1-2 Vitesse

RKC Waalwijk 1-1 FC Groningen

Heerenveen 2-2 Roda JC

NEC Nijmegen 3-1 ADO Den Haag

SC Cambuur 2-0 Go Ahead Eagles

FC Utrecht 2-5 Feyenoord

Ajax 1-0 PSV

STANDINGS

League table courtesy of FIFA.com

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EREDIVISIE

25 EREDIVISIE STARS OF THE SEASON… SO FAR – PART 1

January 12, 2014 Will Burns 1 Comment

The Eredivisie season restarts after the winter break on Friday night, so as a preview, over the next five nights we will be posting the stars of the division so far this term.

Here’s Will Burns with the rundown of the first five…

The 23-year-old left back is halfway through his second season on loan in Arnhem and already it’s his best yet. Vitesse sit second in the league, gunning for this first ever Eredivisie championship and Van Aanholt has played his part making 16 appearances. Attacking down the left, Van Aanholt has the opposition quaking in their personalised boots while notching three goals while creating another three in the process.

The young defender’s greatest display this season was in Vitesse’s 6-2 demolition of PSV Eindhoven. Although he scored once and set up two others, he showed faultless composure and anticipation in defence especially when stopping the PSV attacks early in the second half.

Will a return to the Premier League with Chelsea be on the cards? Or does Jose Mourinho see Ryan Bertrand as the natural successor to Ashley Cole?

Son of Dutch legend, Danny, Daley Blind has emerged as the natural first choice left-back for Ajax over the last 18 months. However as of last nine games, Ajax manager Frank de Boer has moved Blind into the centre of midfield where he has continued to shine.

In a total of 14 appearances in the Eredivisie this season, the move to midfield was obviously going to be a success looking at Blind’s passing stats. So far, the 23-year-old has a fantastic 89.2% success rate, completing 856 out of 960 passes.

Already a mainstay in the Oranje first team, his international career could be taking another turn. Van Gaal classes Blind as his first choice left-back, but his recent displays in the holding midfielder position could change Louis’ mind for Brazil in the summer.

The Brazilian central defender has been an ever-present for Groningen this season, leading the club to sixth in the league standings. Botteghin’s main strength this season has been winning the majority of aerial duels that face him, he is 6ft 4inches tall afterall.

He is a no-nonsense defender, not afraid to boot the ball up the field to give his team time to regroup (168 clearances this season). His long-balls are accurate too; an interesting stat is that the Brazilian has completed a massive 94 of his 128 attempted punts up field.

Joining from NAC Breda in the summer, you have to wonder how long Groningen can hold onto Botteghin, especially when his ‘safety-first’ attitude would be right at home in the Premier League.

Returning back to the Netherlands after an unsuccessful spell in Serie A, Castaignos looks like he could be ready to hit the big leagues again, at only 21-years-old.

At Inter Milan, over two seasons, the powerhouse striker only made six appearances in Italy and failed to make any impact. At Twente, to date, he has notched 23 times in 53 appearances since returning to the Eredivisie, including 10 goals this season.

Castaignos, Dusan Tadic and Quincy Promes have fired Twente into third place so far, just three points behind leaders Ajax. If the goals keep coming, then could a second Eredivisie title be heading to Enschede? Time will tell.

Ajax suffered a terrible start to the season only winning two of the first five games, with goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer, rightly taking the majority of the blame due to some lack of concentration. The carnage continued and in September, Barcelona and PSV hit Ajax with a pair of 4-0 defeats. Meanwhile, Cillessen was keeping attacks at bay for the Jong Ajax side in the Jupiler League. De Boer called the 24-year-old into action, dropping Vermeer and Cillessen has cemented the starting spot his own.

Cillessen has been impressive, with a young inexperienced defence in front of him, he has kept seven clean sheets in 11 games he’s started. Louis van Gaal has found Cillessen impressive too, and has been named the Dutch number one, again replacing Vermeer in recent months.

JOIN US TOMORROW FOR PART TWO

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EREDIVISIE

EREDIVISIE WEEKS 7 & 8 ROUND-UP

September 29, 2013 Will Burns Leave a comment

As our head writer Will Burns was away on holiday the past two weekends he was unable to keep up on the Eredivisie reports. He returns with a quick round-up of the past two matchdays in the Dutch top flight.

The new leaders in the division are PSV Eindhoven on the back of a huge 4-0 win over fierce rivals Ajax. Frank de Boer’s defending champions tasted their biggest defeat on their since April 2009 when PSV put six past them. After a goal-less first half it was not until 53 mins when the floodgates opened. Slovenian striker Tim Matavz opened the floodgates in the 53rd minute following a mistake by Amsterdam goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer and then Jetro Willems, Oscar Hiljemark and Park Ji-Sung struck in rapid succession to finish off the visitors. It was a bad week for de Boer who suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat in the Nou Camp against Barcelona the previous Wednesday.

The weekend after, the Eindhoven suffered their first defeat of the Eredivisie season losing 2-1 away to AZ Alkmaar. The league leaders fell behind in the 21st minute when an unmarked Nick Viergever headed in from a corner kick. Memphis Depay went close to levelling the score five minutes later, he fired a strike wide, via the fingertips of the keeper. However, Depay was not to be denied the equaliser, with the 19-year-old on target in the 35th minute with a wonderfully hit free-kick. However, the hosts went ahead in the 57th minute, through a stunning strike from Aron Johannsson. PSV remain top despite the defeat as AZ move up to third in the table.

After receiving the thumping from PSV on matchday 7, Ajax dished out a demolition of their own hitting Go Ahead Eagles for six. De Boer’s side desperately needed a response after their 4-0 mauling and duly delivered a morale-boosting performance. Like a week earlier, Ajax went into the break goal-less but a 48th-minute Jop van der Linden own goal opening the scoring. Young winger Lesley De Sa made it two in the 50th minute while Icelandic striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson’s quickfire brace complete a spell of four goals in five minutes. It was 5-0 when Lerin Duarte fired home in the 64th minute while Siem De Jong completed the scoring with 21 minutes remaining as Ajax moved into second place, level on 14 points with PEC Zwolle, who were held to a 0-0 draw at home to NAC Breda.

A week earlier Zwolle had slumped to a second successive defeat, going down 3-0 at Vitesse. On-loan Chelsea attacker Lucas Piazon scored twice for the Arnhem side, with his goals in the 35th and 88th minutes sandwiching a strike from Kelvin Leerdam.

Feyenoord continued their improved form with a 1-0 home win over FC Utrecht, Tonny Vilhena netting the only goal 10 minutes before half-time, while NAC Breda beat AZ Alkmaar 3-0. Danny Verbeek, Rydell Poepon and Elson Hooi all struck second-half goals for NAC who have now won back-to-back matches and scored eight times in the process having started the season with three defeats and two draws.

WEEK 7 RESULTS

Friday 20th September

GO AHEAD EAGLES 0-0 CAMBUUR

Saturday 21st September

HERACLES 0-3 FC TWENTE

FC GRONINGEN 4-1 RKC WAALWIJK

ADO DEN HAAG 1-1 NEC NIJMEGEN

RODA JC 3-3 HEERENVEEN

Sunday 22nd September

VITESSE 3-0 PEC ZWOLLE

FEYENOORD 1-0 FC UTRECHT

NAC BREDA 3-0 AZ ALKMAAR

PSV EINDHOVEN 4-0 AJAX

WEEK 8 RESULTS

Saturday 28th September

AZ ALKMAAR 2-1 PSV EINDHOVEN

RKC WAALWIJK 1-4 HERACLES

FC UTRECHT 3-3 RODA JC

PEC ZWOLLE 0-0 NAC BREDA

AJAX 6-0 GO AHEAD EAGLES

Sunday 29th September

NEC NIJMEGEN 2-3 VITESSE

HEERENVEEN 2-1 CAMBUUR

FEYENOORD 4-2 ADO DEN HAAG

FC TWENTE 5-0 FC GRONINGEN

STANDINGS

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EREDIVISIE

EREDIVISIE REPORT: Sunday 15th September 2013

September 15, 2013 Will Burns 1 Comment

WEEK 6 – Sunday 15th September 2013

It was a case of goals galore once again in the Eredivisie as an amazing total of TWENTY-FOUR goals were seen over the day’s five games.

NEC NIJMEGEN 3-3 FEYENOORD

A late Feyenoord equaliser from defender Bruno Martins Indi deprived NEC Nijmegen of their first win of the season, which saw Ronald Koeman’s side flee with a 3-3 draw.

The hosts nearly broke the deadlock but English striker Michael Higdon, still trying to find his feet in the Eredivisie, could not defeat Feyenoord goalkeeper Erwin Mulder in a one-on-one challenge.

The scoring began in the 26th minute as Lex Immers as he headed home a Ruben Schaken cross, however, it was 1-1 five minutes later.

Slovakian midfielder Samuel Štefánik, a new signing from Slovak side FK AS Trenčín on deadline day, caused Koeman’s defence lots of problems all afternoon and grabbed the equaliser. After Mulder parried the Slovak’s initial shot, but after the Feyenoord failed to clear the rebound, Štefánik poked the ball home.

The teams went into the break tied at a goal a piece but Feyenoord emerged the side looking more likely to go on to win the game. The game could have been dead and buried if the usually prolific Graziano Pellè had not crashed two shots off the woodwork early in the second period.

Feyenoord did go 2-1 up on the hour mark, young winger Jean-Paul Boëtius, playing his first game since March, scored after Immers played him through on goal, but that lead only lasted two minutes this time.

Once again it was some shocking defending from the Rotterdam side, as Mulder flapped at a Kevin Conboy free-kick and Feyenoord failed to clear as Icelandic midfielder Victor Palsson was free to tap in the leveller.

On 77 minutes, NEC took a shock lead, with Štefánik scoring his second goal of the game. A surging run forward by Søren Rieks, found Conboy down the left and he crossed for the Slovak midfielder to volley home with a powerful drive. A great debut for the 21-year-old Slovak.

For the remainder of the game, the Nijmegen side had to deal with a Feyenoord barrage but unfortunately for the home side Martins Indi was on hand to finally prod home a Boëtius cross in the final minute of the game.

Neither, Ronald Koeman or Anton Janssen, will be pleased with the point after leading the match.

AZ ALKMAAR 3-0 GO AHEAD EAGLES

AZ clipped Go Ahead Eagles’ wings on Sunday afternoon with a 3-0 win at the AFAS Stadion to end a three-game winless streak in all competitions.

Aron Jóhannsson scored a 31st minute penalty to put Gertjan Verbeek’s side ahead. The goal ended a personal three-game drought for Jóhannsson.

Eagles held their own but strikers in stoppage-time from Viktor Elm and Steven Berghuis cemented the win for AZ.

HEERENVEEN 4-2 FC GRONINGEN

Marco van Basten’s Heerenveen have climbed to third in the Eredivisie, thanks to a 4-2 win over Groningen, helped by two goals from Icelandic striker Alfred Finnbogason. It was a great game to watch at the Abe Lenstra Stadion, but marred by terrible refereeing decisions by Danny Makkelie.

The referee made his mark on 11 minutes, giving a straight red to Groningen’s Timo Letschert a wild challenge. The tackle was wild, but the defender never left his feet in a 50-50 challenge with Luciano Slagveer. Slagveer jumped over the tackle and flipped over but Makkelie instead of giving a yellow card gave Letschert a red, and the visitors were in a real battle to gain something out of the game.

Within twenty minutes, the game was levelled out with both teams ending up with just ten men a piece. Giliano Wijnaldum entered the box to challenge Heerenveen’s on-loan defender Mitchell Dijks to a ball from Tjaronn Chery’s cross. Dijks slipped as Wijnaldum advanced on goal, but the defender grabbed the Groningen mans legs and brought him down for a penalty. Dijks was sent off and Nick van der Velden cheekily chipped home the spot-kick. Makkelie got his decision right this time round.

In the second half, Heerenveen began to up their search for an equaliser and in the 52nd minute, Yanic Wildschut found it. Rajiv van la Parra was determined to swing the ball in from the left and once he had beat Wijnaldum and whipped the ball in, the green shirts failed to clear. The ball feel to Wildschut on the back post who blasted a volley off the underside of the bar and into the net.

Heerenveen went in for the kill and scored a second just three minutes later, as Hungarian defender Kenny Otigba powerfully headed in a Magnus Eikrem inswinging corner past goalkeeper Marco Bizot.

The home side were not in control for long as sixty seconds later, Johan Kappelhof grabbed an equaliser. It was a cleverly worked free-kick from the left wing, as Van der Velden fired a low ball to the back post where Kappelhof was arriving unmarked to fire home via a deflection off Otigba’s boot.

After Bizot brought down Van la Parra in the area on 72 minutes, Finnbogason stepped up, converted the spot-kick and inside the final minute, Finnbogason put the icing on the cake and made sure of all three points. This takes his personal tally to eight in five games. An amazing feat this early in the season and no wonder he is wanted by some of Europe’s top clubs. Heerenveen will face a struggle to keep the Icelander at the club this coming winter.

The referee cards were not finished after 79 minutes he gave Chery his marching orders for a slight tussle in the box with Marten de Roon. It was a second yellow card for the Groningen winger but it was pure handbags by himself and De Roon, and the Heerenveen midfielder was not shown a card for his efforts in the battle.

Groningen’s head coach Erwin van de Looi had stated he will complain to the KNVB about the decisions that Makkelie made and will be appealing Letschert’s red card.

RODA JC 1-5 NAC BREDA

In a shock win, NAC Breda thumped five past Roda JC to grab their first victory of the season.

Roda dominated the first period and actually took the lead just before the half-time whistle, when Mitchell Donald nodded in an excellent Mark Hocher ball from the right. However, the sides went into the interval level as Kees Kwakman headed home a Jordy Buijs free-kick.

The team talk Nebojša Gudelj must have gave his side worked as they arrived back onto the pitch and scored four goals in 25 minutes.

On 67 minutes, substitute Elson Hay poked home at the back post from a Mats Seuntjens sliding ball from the right byline. It was 3-1 just minutes later, as Seuntjes nipped in and stole the ball from Donald. The striker found himself through on goal and coolly finished past goalkeeper Filip Kurto.

Just a minute later, Roda’s day was over as they were reduced to ten men when Frank Demouge was dismissed for a high boot on Buijs. Yet another harsh sending off in the Eredivisie today.

With four minutes remaining, the Roda goal was breached again with Croatian Stipe Perica, on-loan from Chelsea making it four.

As the stadium emptied, Jeffrey Sarpong made it five, two minutes later.

FC UTRECHT 2-1 RKC WAALWIJK

In the final game of the weekend, FC Utrecht got back to winning ways with a narrow 2-1 over RKC Waalwijk.

Steve de Ridder, a recent signing from Southampton, scored two first goals before a Remy Amieux free-kick gave RKC a second-half consolation.

STANDINGS

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EREDIVISIE

EREDIVISIE REPORT: Saturday 14th September 2013

September 15, 2013 Will Burns 1 Comment

WEEK 6 – Saturday 14th September 2013

The Eredivisie returns after the international break and PEC Zwolle stay top even though they tasted their first defeat away to Ajax, as PSV stay second with a 2-2 draw at Twente.

AJAX 2-1 PEC ZWOLLE

Ajax head coach Frank de Boer admitted that he was lucky to see his side come out of Saturday’s evening game with PEC Zwolle with all three points as he watched his side scored two very lucky goals.

De Boer played with a young eleven after the sales of Christian Eriksen and Toby Alderweireld before the transfer deadline. A new look strikeforce of Viktor Fischer, Danny Hoesen and Tobias Sana was the three-pronged attack with Siem de Jong and Kolbeinn Sigthórsson sitting on the bench, to be used if needed.

Ajax started the brighter and could have been ahead after 12 minutes if it weren’t for a superb point blank save by Kevin Begois in the visiting goal. Zwolle failed to clear a corner and new boy Lerin Duarte, recent signing from Heracles, whipped the ball in to meet the head of defender Stefano Denswil at the back post. Unfortunately for the defender, he placed his header into the hands of Begois who palmed the ball away.

It was visitors who created the next best chance on 36 minutes, and should have been ahead except for an offside decision that the TV replays proved to be incorrect. A Stef Nijland shot stung the hands of Kenneth Vermeer, and Mustafa Saymak rushed in and placed the rebound home, but the linesman had his flag up but the replays showed he was online with last defender.

De Boer and Ron Jans’ saw their teams head in at 0-0, however, three minutes before the whistle Zwolle should have had a penalty. Ricardo van Rhijn, who was given a torrid time by PEC striker Fred Benson, was caught on the camera pulling the Benson’s shirt inside the box. Benson stayed on his feet until the ball was cleared and fell down at the wrong moment, and referee Reinold Wiedemeijer waved away any appeals.

The game was hardly a classic and De Boer made a double substitution just after the hour mark. The returning Siem de Jong, previously out with a collapsed lung, arrived along with the on-loan Bojan replacing the uneventful pairing of Fischer and Hoesen.

Ten minutes later, we finally saw our first goal from South African international Thulani Serero. Fellow compatriot Kamohelo Mokotjo tried to clear the ball out the box but it fell to Serero. The young midfielder smashed a shot goalwards and Mokotjo was blocking the path of goalkeeper Begois and deflected the ball into the net. The Belgian keeper was not happy but it was an unfortunate goal.

On 76 minutes, Ajax doubled the lead in the same lucky fashion. A poor clearance from Begois fed the ball into the feet of Icelandic substitute Sigthórsson whom fired his shot against the foot of the post. The ball flicked up and hit Zwolle defender Maikel van der Werff into the chest which spiralled the rebound into the goal past the helpless Begois. On the sideline, De Boer shook his head instead of celebrating.

Earlier, Zwolle striker Guyon Fernandez arrived replacing Fred Benson and he nearly grabbed a goal back with six minutes to go. A great run allowed the on-loan striker to skip past Vermeer with ease, but his shot from wide was headed off the line by Denswil.

Zwolle got their consolation from a wonderful striker from yet another substitute Giovanni Gravenbeek. The ball fell to the Suriname-born defender on 89 minutes, just outside the box and Gravenbeek hit an outstanding right foot curler into the net smashing down from the underside of the bar.

The hosts anxiously held on for the final moments to dish out a first season defeat for Jans’ Zwolle side, before heading on a flight to Spain for Wednesday’s opening Champions League Group H game with Barcelona. On this performance, Lionel Messi and Neymar should not be troubled by the Dutch champions.

SC CAMBUUR 2-0 HERACLES

Cambuur’s impressive start to the campaign continues with a 2-0 victory over the poor Heracles Almelo.

After holding PSV to a 0-0 draw in the Philips Stadion before the break for internationals, the Eredivisie new boys started the game confidently but had to wait until 42 minutes to score their opening goal. A cross from Oebele Schokker found the head of Michiel Hemmen before Heracles goalkeeper Remko Pasveer could get his punch to it.

Cambuur secured the win with just two minutes remanining when a Marcel Ritzmaier cross, on-loan from PSV, took a deflection off Jason Davidson, which looped over Pasveer to make it 2-0 late on.

Cambuur are now into the top half of the league, while Heracles lose their third game out of the six and sit 12th but after losing Lerin Duarte to Ajax in the window, this season could be a struggle for them. They will look to new signing Iliass Bel Hassani from Sparta Rotterdam to help them create and score the goals, but it is a big ask for the 20-year-old attacking midfielder.

ADO DEN HAAG P-P VITESSE ARNHEM

A waterlogged pitch saw the postponement of Vitesse’s trip to Den Haag on Saturday evening, the game is yet to be rescheduled.

FC TWENTE 2-2 PSV EINDHOVEN

Philip Cocu’s PSV stay second in the league table after a 2-2 draw at FC Twente in Saturday’s late game.

The Eindhoven side nearly inadvertently took the lead early on after six minutes when a Joshua Brenet cross was headed off his own crossbar by Danish defender Andreas Bjelland.

Although, Twente looked the more dangerous of the two sides in the opening moments and took the lead on 17 minutes. Nineteen-year-old Shadrach Eghan layed the ball off on the right wing to Luc Castaignos and continued his run into the box. His marker, Stijn Schaars, left the Ghanaian midfielder unmarked and the youngster turned Jeffrey Bruma and fired past Jeroen Zoet.

The hosts could have been further ahead straight off the restart, when some shaky defending allowed Castaignos to fire a shot at Zoet. It was a firm stop by the young ‘keeper. On the half-hour, Zoet was tested again by a Dusan Tadic free-kick but held firm.

The visitors held the greater possession after the goal but and could not create any clear cut opportunities. On 32 minutes, Ji-Sung Park played Georginio Wijnaldum into the box but the midfielder’s shot was straight at Nick Marsman in the Twente goal.

After the break, PSV stepped up their game up, and moments after Memphis Depay had been denied a penalty and stung Marsman’s hands with a vicious shot from the left, he created the equaliser.

Depay surged down the left and swung in a beautiful cross into the back post where Wijnaldum was able to nod home unmarked from close range.

Head coach Philip Cocu introduced Zakaria Bakkali and Ola Toivonen off the bench on 66 minutes replacing Park and Adam Maher and straight away PSV should have took the lead. After a marauding run by Bakkali the ball fell perfectly at Wijnaldum’s feet in the box but he blazed the shot over the bar. It was a poor miss which PSV were made to pay for minutes later.

Tadic twisted Brenet inside out on the left wing and crossed deep for Castaignos to cushion a header into Quincy Promes, who volleyed his side into the lead from a few yards out.

PSV levelled with just seven minutes remaining with Memphis Depay cutting in from the left before firing a shot off defender Roberto Rosales which deflected past Marsman.

The game finished 2-2 and Castaignos and Schaars were involved in a shoving match after the final whistle. The big Twente striker had to be restrained by players from both sides and may be trouble from the KNVB after an investigation.

This is now PSV’s third league draw in succession and they will now entertain Bulgarian side Ludogorets on Thursday in their opening Europa League Group B game.

REMAINDER OF WEEK 6 FIXTURES

SUNDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER

NEC NIJMEGEN vs. FEYENOORD

AZ ALKMAAR vs. GO AHEAD EAGLES

HEERENVEEN vs. FC GRONINGEN

RODA JC vs. NAC BREDA

FC UTRECHT vs. RKC WAALWIJK

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EREDIVISIE

EREDIVISIE REPORT: Sunday 1st September 2013

September 1, 2013 Will Burns 1 Comment

WEEK 5 – Sunday 1st September 2013

After week five, PEC Zwolle still sit top even though they dropped their first points of the season as Ajax were also head by Groningen. Feyenoord seem to finally finding their stride as they romped to a 4-0 home win over Roda JC.

FC GRONINGEN 1-1 AJAX

The defending champions drew first blood halfway through the first half, when Danish midfielder Lasse Schöne fired a rocket of a shot into the bottom corner from outside the area.

The hosts looked for an equaliser and defender Eric Botteghin had a great chance to score. Ajax ‘keeper Kenneth Vermeer saved his defence with a great stop from the rising Brazilian’s defenders header from the back post.

After the break, the visitors should have made it two but Bojan, largely disappointing since arriving on loan from Barcelona, went on a jinking run past two defenders. However, instead of playing the ball to an unmarked Schöne, the Spaniard lost the ball after trying to trick his way through on goal.

It was end to end stuff, and Groningen won a corner, and when Botteghin once again saw his header saved by Vermeer, stocky striker Genero Zeefuik was in the right place at the right time to level the score.

After Bojan fluffed another opportunity, Groningen could have won the game themselves in the final minute, but Ajax were saved by the post. Sixteen-year-old Richairo Zivkovic headed on to a free Filip Kostić, but the Serbian’s shot cannoned back off the post.

Frank de Boer will be disappointed with the point as his side are yet to tatse a win away from home this season. This will only get tougher after losing Christian Eriksen and Toby Alderweireld this weekend.

It is a case of reserved fortunes for Groningen, as they bounce back from second-rate performances against Eredivisie new boys Go Ahead Eagles and Cambuur.

AZ ALKMAAR 1-1 VITESSE

AZ and Vitesse struggled to entertain in the first period of the match, neither side unable to break the deadlock or trouble either goalkeeper.

Just before half-time, AZ created a chance and took it. Swedish right-back Mattias Johansson powered his way up the pitch down the right, cut inside, encroached into the area and fire a superb effort past Piet Velthuizen.

Vitesse pressed and AZ soaked up the pressure looking to attack on the counter. It backfired though as late in the game, Jonathan Reis salvaged a point for Vitesse.

With just five minutes remaining, Frank van der Struijk swung in a cross from the byline and Reis nodded home at the front post.

PEC ZWOLLE 1-1 FC UTRECHT

PEC Zwolle are still top of the pile in the Eredivisie but lost their 100% record as they dropped their first points in a 1-1 draw at home against FC Utrecht.

Jan Wouters side took the lead five minutes after the break with new signing Willem Janssen nodded home his first goal for his new club. A recent loan signing from FC Twente, headed home a Jens Toornstra free-kick.

Zwolle equalized in the 74th minute through Stef Nijland. Nijland, a free-transfer from PSV in the summer, finished off a nice move down the left from Jesper Drost to keep Zwolle undefeated in five games.

FEYENOORD 4-0 RODA JC

Ronald Koeman will be a happier man tonight, after losing their first three games of the season, his Feyenoord side has now won their two matches including 4-0 demolition of Roda JC today.

A 31st minute Ruud Vormer’s spot-kick fired the home side into the lead. Meanwhile, Italian hitman Graziano Pelle continued his strong start by notching his sixth goal in five games just before the break. It was a cracker, a half-volley from the edge of the box after the Roda defence could not clear a free-kick.

Nelom Miquel made it three on 68 minutes, and it got worse for the visitors as they were reduced to ten men on 80 minutes. Henk Dijkhuizen was shown a straight red card for a needless tackle from behind on Ruben Schaken on the half-way line.

John Goossens put the icing on the cake a few minutes later with his first goal of the season, a low drive from outside the area, as Feyenoord move towards the top half of the table.

STANDINGS

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EREDIVISIE

EREDIVISIE REPORT: Saturday 31st August 2013

September 1, 2013 Will Burns Leave a comment

WEEK 5 – Saturday 31st August 2013

PSV were held at home by new boys SC Cambuur on their big anniversary day, as Go Ahead Eagles keep flying towards the top end of the division.

FC TWENTE 1-1 HEERENVEEN

FC Twente escaped with a 1-1 draw at home to Marco van Basten’s Heerenveen as Swede defender Rasmus Bengtsson struck a late equaliser.

FC Twente were in control of the majority of the game as Heerenveen, without star striker Alfred Finnbogason due to a toe injury, took the lead through midfielder Joey Van der Berg score on 64 minutes.

The draw means both sides are locked just outside the top two positions.

HERACLES 1-0 ADO DEN HAAG

Heracles managed to hold on to their lead this week as they beat ADO Den Haag 1-0 at home.

ADO are in the middle of a poor run, only winning one of the last five games and it was the hosts that dominated.

Australian left-back Jason Davidson got the only goal of the game on the half-hour mark with Heracles failing to add to that goal, but remaining comfortable throughout.

RKC WAALWIJK 1-4 GO AHEAD EAGLES

Go Ahead Eagles are still soaring as Erik Falkenburg hit a hat-trick in the 4-1 defeat of RKC Waalwijk.

The former Jong Oranje international joined the Eagles on loan from AZ Alkmaar in early August and opened his account in fine style as they secured their second win of the season.

After notching two first-half goals, the 25-year-old completed his hat trick midway through the second half, while Marnix Kolder added a fourth goal from the penalty spot.

Denzel Slager pulled one back three minutes from time for Waalwijk, which has earned just one point from its last three games.

PSV 0-0 SC CAMBUUR

PSV’s anniversary celebrations were spoiled as they were held to a 0-0 home draw by newly promoted Eredivisie rivals SC Cambuur in the evening game.

The Eindhoven side were celebrating their 100th year in football, and could have gone top with a win, but Philip Cocu’s side slipped to their fourth consecutive game in all competitions without a win.

PSV had the most of possession and fired in more shots than their opponents, but a lack of accuracy cost both sides as they each only managed two on target.

PSV were eliminated from the Champions League in Wednesday’s play-off by Milan and will hope they come back from the international break reinvigorated as they ready themselves for a championship battle and a Europa League campaign.

REMAINDER OF WEEK 5 FIXTURES

SUNDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER

FC GRONINGEN vs. AJAX

PEC ZWOLLE vs. FC UTRECHT

AZ ALKMAAR vs. VITESSE

FEYENOORD vs. RODA JC

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EREDIVISIE

EREDIVISIE REPORT: Friday 30th August 2013

August 30, 2013 Will Burns Leave a comment

WEEK 5 – Friday 30th August 2013

Week five of the Eredivisie season began with NAC Breda and NEC Nijmegen battling to gain their first win of the season.

NAC BREDA 1-1 NEC NIJMEGEN

However it was a very even game between the Eredivisie’s bottom sides finished with a deserved 1-1 draw, with new NEC coach Anton Janssen happy with the point.

After the dismissal of Alex Pastoor, following three heavy defeats a fortnight ago, NEC appointed former player Janssen as his permanent successor earlier this week. Janssen takes over from goalkeeping coach Wilfried Brookhuis, who was the cartetaker coach of last weekend’s 2-2 draw at RKC Waalwijk.

The hosts gained an early advantage after just four minutes of play. A whipping ball placed into the penalty area fell into the path of striker Rydell Poepon, who will never score an easier goal to make it 1-0.

Janssen, would have watched his new side ship five goals in their previous away game at PSV Eindhoven on the TV and the new coach would have feared the worst. But, Icelandic midfielder Victor Palsson, earned them a point with his 43rd-minute goal. It was a beautiful first-time effort after collecting Navarone Foor’s pass, chipping goalkeeper Jelle ten Rouwelaar from outside the area.

REMAINDER OF WEEK 5 FIXTURES

SATURDAY 31ST AUGUST

FC TWENTE vs. HEERENVEEN

HERACLES vs. ADO DEN HAAG

RKC WAALWIJK vs. GO AHEAD EAGLES

PSV vs. SC CAMBUUR

SUNDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER

FC GRONINGEN vs. AJAX

PEC ZWOLLE vs. FC UTRECHT

AZ ALKMAAR vs. VITESSE

FEYENOORD vs. RODA JC

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EREDIVISIE

EREDIVISIE REPORT: Sunday 25th August 2013

August 26, 2013 Will Burns Leave a comment

WEEK 4 – Sunday 25th August 2013

Feyenoord, FC Utrecht and Vitesse Arnhem all pulled off wins to try and salvage their season so far after poor starts in the opening three weeks.

GO AHEAD EAGLES 3-3 FC GRONINGEN

Eredivisie new boys Go Ahead Eagles put in another valiant performance and were unlucky to go home with all three points early Sunday afternoon.

The hosts took the lead after just ten minutes with a yet another goal from Marnix Kolder. Erik Falkenburg found some space down the right and swung a ball across the goal for Kolder to slide home.

Groningen should have had an equaliser on the half-hour but the Eagles were saved by goalkeeper Eloy Room and the woodwork. Nick van der Velden floated in a free-kick that the home side failed to clear and the ball fell to Krisztián Adorján (on-loan from Liverpool) to smash a half-volley towards goal but Room tipped the shot against the crossbar.

On the stroke of half-time, the visitors found their goal. Van der Velden racxed through on goal after evading the offside trap and layed the ball into the on rushing Tjaronn Chery to tap home.

Three minutes after the restart, Eagles went 2-1 in front from that man again, Marnix Kolder. A weak goal that the Groningen defence horribly defended, and as the ball came out to Kolder’s feet, he placed the ball home past a stagnant Marco Bizot.

It was 2-2 on 53 minutes, the orchastator for the goal was the brilliant Filip Kostic. Surging down the left wing, turning Eagles defender Mawouna Amevor with ease, Kostic spun a low cross over to Adorján to finish beautifully.

The away fans weren’t celebrating for long. Just before the hour mark, left-back Xandro Schenk got forward and grabbed his second goal of the season,after another pitiful display of defending by Erwin van de Looi’s team. Various shots came in and Groningen failed to clear their lines, before Schenk blasted home on 59 minutes,

Groningen, 3-2 down and the game looked over on 69 minutes when Adorján received his marching orders for an elbow on Sjoerd Overgoor. It got worse two minutes later when Timo Letschert received his second booking for a clumsy challenge on the edge of the box.

However, the points were shared in the closing stages of the match when substitute striker Genaro Zeefuik scored for the nine men to clinch a vital draw. The powerhouse caused problems throughout his time on the pitch, but he scrambled a ball in after a corner on 87 minutes. It looked liked handball but the goal was awarded.

FEYENOORD 3-1 NAC BREDA

Italian striker Graziano Pelle scored an excellent hat-trick to lead Feyenoord to a 3-1 victory over NAC Breda, the Rotterdam team’s first points of the season.

Feyenoord were dominant and looked a very different side to that over the past three weeks and could have been two or three goals up int he opening ten minutes. It was a feisty contest and scrappy at times with Jordy Clasie and Rydell Poepon both booked for a pushing contest they participated in on 21 minutes.

Tackles continued to fly throughout but we the first goal finally came on 37 minutes and it was the beginning of a quickfire double by Pelle. Clasie swung a free-kick from the left into the area where Pelle rose above everyone to head home, 1-0.

The ever-loud De Kuip got even louder from the kick-off with Pelle finishing a lovely move by Clasie. Two goals up and the home side were cruising.

Another header gave Pelle his treble on 53 minutes. New signing Samuel Armenteros found space down the left to swing a ball towards the back post where Pelle was waiting to nod another into the goal.

NAC’s Joey Suk got a consolation goal six minutes later but it was not enough to change the result.

The pressure is off Ronald Koeman slightly as he heads into a must win game against Kuban Krasnodar in the Europa League on Thursday night.

VITESSE 1-0 FC TWENTE

Peter Bosz’ Vitesse finally got back to winning ways on Sunday with a 1-0 home win over FC Twente.

Tall Japanese striker Mike Havenaar scored the only goal of the game on 22 minutes with a powerful header from a Theo Janssen corner.

The home side were the stronger of the two throughout and should have been two goals ahead on 25 minutes but on-loan Chelsea playmaker Lucas Piazon placed hi shot against the foot of the post.

Twente had their chances too, but poor finishing let them down and they returned back to Enschede with nothing to show for their efforts.

FC UTRECHT 2-0 AZ ALKMAAR

Jan Wouters lives to fight another day as FC Utrecht won their first game of the season to end a bad run, courtesy of two goals from summer signing Steve de Ridder.

After a goal-less first-half, De Ridder, signed from Premier League club Southampton last month, got the opening goal on 54 minutes. Great link-up play between Tommy Oar and Dave Bulthuis down the right set-up the goal, with Bulthuis crossing for De Ridder to slide the ball home.

The lead was extended on 66 minutes with De Ridder’s second. Oar again involved powering through the middle to set De Ridder through on goal, where the former Southampton striker finished coolly.

AZ look jaded and poor over the 90 minutes which may be due their Thursday night Europa League win in Greece over Atromitos. The second leg is this Thursday in Alkmaar, where AZ are leading 3-1 on aggregate.