Disappointing start in stunning new home

18 augustus 2024, 14:43

Magnificent, unparalleled, a football temple, a classic English stadium, a new home. These are just a few of the superlatives that were heard this afternoon in and about the new Kooi Stadium of SC Cambuur. In recent months, they have worked very hard to get the new stadium ready to play, even up to the last day, but with the necessary temporary facilities, they managed to get the ball rolling. And it must be said, because what a magnificent asset the Kooi Stadium is to Dutch football and how Ons Nieuwe Thuis fits the people’s club that Cambuur is like a favourite coat and will remain at its new location.

Almost as a matter of course, the Kooi Stadium was also sold out immediately, although for safety reasons 1,000 seats on the main stand had to remain empty and the away section was also far from sold out. Be that as it may: the atmosphere was good right away with Ricky and his mates Aad Lus and Ed Lip and the Kooi Stadium filled up early. Even at the start of the warm-up, the North stand was already well filled, as we can see from previous Derby’s.

There seemed to be nothing to stand in the way of a wonderful football afternoon with Helmond Sport as opponent. However, the visitors had not reckoned with that. Coincidentally, the Helmond team was also the last opponent in the old Cambuur Stadium and just like then, they managed to make it difficult for SC Cambuur this time too. What’s more: where it was still equal when leaving the old stadium, SC Cambuur now even had to swallow a 0-1 defeat.

SC Cambuur had only themselves to blame for that, because the supporters wanted to, but it was too slow and too anxious on Leeuwarden’s side in the first half to let the ‘Hell of Leeuwarden’ break out. Or so it seemed. Helmond Sport had the upper hand and was also more dangerous. Although the first big chance was for SC Cambuur, when Nicky Souren seemed to be able to take advantage after a mistake in the build-up. The captain’s effort was not bad at all, but Van der Steen’s foot was just in between and so the ball rolled agonizingly slowly along the wrong side of the post.

After just under half an hour, the visitors from Helmond did score when Van der Hurk sent his partner up front away and Casas, who made his debut in yellow and blue today, was unable to correct him. Sits could only charge at Thijs Jansen and that did not faze him. The striker calmly slid the ball under the goalkeeper and the away section with around 100 supporters could celebrate.

It was not half of SC Cambuur and head coach Henk de Jong intervened hard at half time. Smand, Marsman and Nartey had to leave the field and Poll, Van Mullen and Mercera ensured the turnaround. And that certainly came, because although what the home team showed was not yet great, there was a lot more energy and drive forward and would soon create chances.

Actually it was a small miracle that ‘t Woanskip was not allowed to sound yet today at the first match in the Kooi Stadium, because SC Cambuur got a lot of chances after the break. First it was Van der Water and Souren who got a chance and a little later Fedde de Jong was incredibly close from a volley.

When Milan Smit was allowed to take a penalty after a handball in the 74th minute, would it happen after all? Anneke was already ready in the playlist, but the man who shot everything flawlessly last season failed to find the net today. Even twice, because on the first attempt he left his line too early according to the referee on duty. Smit’s second attempt was also unconvincing and so had to happen during the final offensive. It helped that Sits was shown his second yellow card and SC Cambuur was in possession of the ball continuously. On the last corner, goalkeeper Jansen went forward and got the before the shot. It would have been an ultimate finish, but it seemed as if it was not allowed today.

SC Cambuur thus begins a new era in the Kooi Stadium with an annoying 0-1 defeat, but it can be incredibly proud of its beautiful new home and one thing is certain: that golden future will certainly come with such a stadium.

Next week it will be the old-fashioned Friday evening again when SC Cambuur travels to Oss for the match against TOP.

SC Cambuur line-up: Jansen; Ottesen, Casas (76′ De Leeuw), Smand (46′ Van Mullem), Marsman (46′ Poll); Souren (C) (61′ Pauwels), Nartey (46′ Mercera), De Jong; Van der Water, Smit and Balk

Helmond Sport line-up: Van der Steen (C); Pachonik, Halhal, Scholz, Absalem; Mallahi, Ostrc, Van Himbeeck (46′ Van Hove), Daneels (90′ Essakkati); Van den Hurk (58′ Ingason) and Sits

Referee: Allard Lindhout
Supporters present: 13,150 (supporters’ sections sold out)

Scoring progression:
25′ 0-1, Sits

Details: Smit mist penalty (75′)

Yellow cards: Mallahi, Van den Hurk and Van der Water
Red card: Sits

Photo: www.dijksmedia.nl