ADO Den Haag had a very difficult evening in Velsen-Zuid. Darije Kalezic’s team already faced a deficit at halftime and was unable to fight back in the second half. ADO Den Haag lost the match once morest SC Telstar 3-1 and therefore sees direct promotion disappearing further from view.
After the cracker once morest FC Dordrecht, it was time for the meeting with the team from Velsen-Zuid on Friday evening, March 15. In the 711 Stadium there were three changes at kick-off compared to the previous match. Asante, Van der Sande and Van Hintum returned to the starting line-up. This brings the latter to 500 (!) official matches in professional football. It was not only a special evening for Van Hintum, but Derijck was also able to write a new anniversary to his name. The central defender played his 150th official match in The Hague.
The match had a rather boring opening phase. Not much happened in the first fifteen minutes of the match, although the away team did have the upper hand. The White Lions waited quietly and watched for counter opportunities. The wait was rewarded, because the first real counter opportunity was an immediate hit. Gravenberch was able to receive a cross from El Kachati from close range: 1-0.
Meanwhile, the time continued to tick on the scoreboard, but still little happened. Mainly ADO Den Haag played the ball patiently, but might not create any real opportunities. Only following half an hour of play did the away team become really dangerous for the first time, following Ché reached Veerman with a tailor-made cross. The striker saw the crossbar get in the way of his goal on behalf of the people of The Hague. The second goal attempt on behalf of the visitors came once more from Veerman, this time it was Koeman Jr. who stopped the striker from scoring. In the meantime, Gravenberch had to leave the field injured and ADO Den Haag took advantage of the man-shortage situation. From a cross from Van Mieghem, Van der Sande was able to put the ball in front of goalkeeper Koeman Jr. slide in: 1-1. ADO Den Haag might not enjoy this for long, because the loss of ball in midfield was rigorously punished by Kaandorp, who had only just come on. With man and ball he also slid the ball over the goal line in The Hague. As a result, ADO Den Haag had to concede another goal just before the half-time signal.
So there was work to be done for ADO Den Haag in the second half. Especially when, following less than two minutes of play, El Kachati took the ball from a cross and left Marsman without a chance. The visitors suddenly found themselves trailing 3-1. Head coach Darije Kalezic intervened early in the second half and made no fewer than three substitutions; Van Wolfgang, Esajas and Absalem were given the difficult task of bringing ADO Den Haag back into the match. Veerman was close once more when his shot was deflected and ended up on top of the crossbar.
If ADO Den Haag wanted to at least get another point out of the fire, it had to force something now. For that reason, Kalezic sent an extra striker into the field; Houwaart was allowed to strengthen the attacking line in the last ten minutes of the match. However, the visitors were unable to score that important tying goal, causing ADO Den Haag to lose to Telstar: 3-1.
Characteristics
SC Telstar – ADO The Hague 3-1 (2-1)
Score progression: 14. Gravenberch 1-0, 37. Van der Sande 1-1, 42. Kaandorp 2-1, 47. El Kachati 3-1
Referee: Rupert
SC Telstar setup: Koeman Jr., Kruiver, Apau, Koswal, Oude Kotte, Turfkruier; Van de Loo, Plat, El Kachati (68. Van den Heerink), Gravenberch (37. Kaandorp), Seedorf (68. Tahiri)
Line-up ADO The Hague: Martian; Ché, Asante (56.Absalem), Derijck, Van Hintum (80. Houwaart); Surmeli © (56. Esajas), Vlak, Van der Sande (56. Van Wolfgang); Van Mieghem, Veerman, Schalk (67. Sellouki)