Play-Offs ‘remains’ dream for ADO Den Haag, after loss against Almere City

After the loss on Sunday afternoon at home, ADO Den Haag can only dream of reaching the Play-offs in the Kitchen Champion Division. At halftime it still looked good with a 2-1 lead, but after tea the home team relinquished the lead and eventually had to admit its superiority with 2-3 in the winner of the 3rd period title Almere City.

Prior to
With six games to go and knowing that NAC Breda is trailing (0-1) in the stopped match against Willem II and De Graafschap (next Friday in Doetinchem the opponent) had played a draw, it was clear that a win against the Alex Pastoor’s team, the only option was to claim eighth place in the final ranking.

Lightning start

The residents of The Hague had a lightning start in the first half, although the home team escaped behind after two minutes when Titouan Thomas, after fumbling around his own sixteen, put Lance Duijvestijn (former ADO) one on one with ADO goalkeeper Sonny Stevens, but luckily the born Wateringer shot well next to the goal in The Hague. The Advocaat team recovered quickly and in the seventh minute it was striker Thomas Verheydt after an assist from Xander Severina who volleyed in the 1-0. Five minutes later, the home team made it 2 – 0 by Titouan Thomas who got the ball in front of his feet from a corner by Dhoraso Klas via Mario Bilate and scored. Alex Pastoor’s team then put it down a bit differently and thus gained the upper hand in midfield. Around half an hour, Verheydt had another opportunity from a corner, but his header disappeared into the hands of the guests’ goalkeeper. The visitors took control and ten minutes before the break, Kornelius Hansen more or less got a free pass after an assist from Duijvestijn and scored the 2-1. Barely two minutes later, the home club should have come 3-1, but Severina went for his own success and shot the ball high over where a wide pass to Mario Bilate would have been a much wiser choice.

Not awake

Immediately after the break, ADO was clearly not yet alert, because already in the first minute of the second half, the 2 – 2 was already in the Hague net by Hamdi Akujobi, who could easily shoot a cross from the back line into the box. Denzel Hall, who did not put any pressure on the cross, was clearly not alert and could take this into account. The home team was clearly shocked by this equalizer and went looking for the lead again. Around the hour Guillem Rodriguez sent Severiuna deep, who then had a cross in the house, but Verheydt saw his header go over the goal of the North Holland team. More than five minutes later, the visitors took the lead (2-3) due to Duijvestijn, who correctly estimated an assist from Hansen and left goalkeeper Stevens with no chance with his effort. With fifteen minutes to go, Advocaat brought four fresh forces into the field, with the change of captain Boy Kemper raising eyebrows. Just before the start of the last ten minutes, the home side had some bad luck when a bet by Thomas was cleared on the goal line.

Extra time

Despite the five minutes of extra time, ADO Den Haag was no longer able to get the equalizer on the scoreboard. Darmee continues the gap to eighth place and thus the Play-Offs six points. With five games to go it will be a hell of a job!

Characteristics

ADO The Hague – Almere City : 2 – 3 ( 2 – 1)

Score: 7th min. 1 – 0 Verheydt, 12th min. 2 – 0 Thomas, 35th min. 2 – 1 Hansen, 46th min. 2 – 2 Akujobi, 64th min. 2 – 3 Duijvestijn

Yellow cards : Bilate, Thomas (ADO Den Haag), Esajas (Almere City)

Referee : Danny Makkelie

Spectators : 8,322

Setup ADO The Hague : Stevens, Kemper(76/Black), Asante, Hall, Rodriguez, Thomas, Sleegers (76/Komljenovic), Bilate, Klas (76/Esajas), Verheydt, Severina (76/Ćatić)

Setup Almere City : Bakker, Jacobs, v.Bruggen, Duijvestijn (83/v.La Parra), Alvaro Pena, Hansen (90/Pouwels), Pascu (83/Alhaft), Akujobi, Manel Royo, Resink, Esajas (78/Smeets)

Editorial: Robert Blankenstein
Photos: ADOFans.nl