Fel De Graafschap is too strong for FC Eindhoven

On Friday evening 6 September, FC Eindhoven travelled to another stadium again. This weekend, a visit to De Vijverberg was planned. At exactly 20:00, the match De Graafschap against FC Eindhoven kicked off, with a stadium full of supporters waiting for what the evening would bring. More than 90 minutes later, FCE returned to Eindhoven with a 2-0 defeat

The game had only just begun and there was the first big chance for a goal. In the fifth minute FC Eindhoven got away with it. A ball that was played back hard to goalkeeper Jorn Brondeel bounced back to the feet of Jesse van de Haar. The striker was shocked by the chance he got and shot the ball high over.

But it didn’t stop there. In the first twenty minutes, FC Eindhoven’s defence had to show its defensive strength. Not once, twice or three times, but four times the ball almost ended up in the away team’s goal. The first ball was extended by the heel and went past Jorn Brondeel, but because there was no one at the far post, the ball didn’t go in. The second ball was kept off the line by Terrence Douglas and the resulting rebound was defended at the right moment by a cat-like reflex from the keeper. And the fourth ball was again kept out of the net by Terrence Douglas. For the time being, the defence managed to hold out and the score remained 0-0 at De Vijverberg.

In the 24th minute, De Graafschap made FC Eindhoven difficult again. This time, the home team did manage to take the lead. A shot by Tristan van Gilst sent the ball into the net, out of reach of Jorn Brondeel.

• Sven Simons tries to stay upright

The Blue-Whites did not get much attacking in the first half. Maurice Verberne’s team came close to De Graafschap’s penalty area a few times, but the Superboeren defence was not made difficult enough. The biggest chance of the first half for our men came just before half-time. Hugo Deenen intercepted the ball well from Jeffrey Fortes and gave a cross that just missed Daan Huisman, but ended up in the hands of Joshua Smits via a few defenders. The half-time whistle followed with a 1-0 on the scoreboard.

In the opening phase of the second half, De Graafschap quickly had another chance. Jesse van de Haar turned on his axis and shot the ball just past the goal.

In the 60th minute, the equalizer seemed very close. FC Eindhoven was able to move towards Joshua Smits’ goal with speed, where Boris van Schuppen was then able to shoot. The first shot was saved and Sven Simons got the ball in his feet for the rebound. The rebound was also defended, but the Blue-Whites showed their dangerous side for a moment.

In the first half, FC Eindhoven was mainly defending, but in the second half the game shifted more to the midfield. The Blue-Whites created a few more attacks than earlier in the match. This did not mean that things were quiet on FC Eindhoven’s side. De Graafschap also managed to come dangerously close to the goal a few times. Until the 85th minute, it did not go beyond dangerous chances, but then Philip Brittijn headed the Doetinchemers to a bigger lead and it became 2-0.

• A tour de force by Terrence Douglas

It was a hard-fought match, in which FC Eindhoven had to defend a lot. Unfortunately, the fierce De Graafschap was too strong for our Blue-White men. The Blue-Whites returned to Eindhoven without points.

Next week, football will finally be played again in the Jan Louwers Stadium. On Friday 13 September at 20:00, FC Eindhoven will play against FC Dordrecht. Will you be there again? Buy your ticket here!

De Graafschap – FC Eindhoven 2-0 (1-0) 24. Tristan van Gilst 1-0, 84. Philip Brittijn 2-0. Yellow cards: Tristan van Gilst, Donny Warmerdam (De Graafschap), Terrence Douglas, Sven Blummel (FC Eindhoven). Number of spectators: 10063.

The County: Smits; Fortes, Besselink, Hillen, Schoppema; Warmerdam, Van Gilst (62. Mahi), Najah (62. Brittijn), Van Der Heide (76. Eduardo), Van de Haar (62. Seuntjens);

FC Eindhoven: Source: T. Simons, Limouri (83. Verheij), Seedorf, Douglas;

Photography FC Eindhoven Media | Luca Engelbracht

• Daan Huisman
• Terrence Douglas seeks out his opponent
• Boris van Schuppen slides with Levi Schoppema to the ball

• Daan Huisman in a header duel with Rio Hillen
• Tyrese Simons is disappointed with the 2-0 defeat