FC Groningen – Heracles Almelo 2-1 (0-1) 10/09/06
The second home game of the 2006/2007 season saw Groningen take on the other surprise package of last season: Heracles Almelo. They are one of only two teams ever to walk away from the Euroborg stadium with anything more than a defeat in Dutch league matches. As they had already beaten Groningen at home last season manager Ron Jans made it an explicit point in his goals for this season to do better against Hercales.
Bruno Silva returned for Groningen at right back for Matthijs who got injured in training, and Goran Lovre replaced Danny Buijs who was sold to Feyenoord hours before the transfer deadline. Heracles was without Hirayama, last season’s top goal scorer with eight goals, who had been home sick and was allowed to leave for a japanese club last week. His replacement was Brazilian Everton, who despite having only been at the club for a short time is already highly regarded by manager Brood. German midfielder Michalke is out for about six months with a knee injury, and thus didn’t play today, whilst striker Hofstede was also out.
It looked like Arnold Kruiswijk hadn’t been paying much attention to this mangers wishes to do better against Heracles this season, as just after kick-off he tried to pack-pass to keeper Roorda, who hadn’t anticipated his defender’s move, and put the ball in his own net after just nine seconds of play! This is a new Dutch record for fastest own goal and only one second short of equalling the Dutch record for fastest goal ever.
This disastrous start surely really rattled Groningen’s confidence, as nothing seemed to go right in the first half. It took nearly 20 minutes for Groningen’s first attempt on goal, a weak shot by Glen Salmon, one of the few players who reached an acceptable level in that first half. In that first 20 minutes Heracles’s Brazilian striker Everton even had an opportunity to make it 2-0, but saw his shot saved by Roorda.
After failing to make it 2-0 Heracles decided it would try to hold on the 1-0 advantage and resorted throughout the rest of the match to defensive football laced with delaying tactics. This at least gave Groningen the majority of possession, and some small chances were created. Heracles conceded a few corners and Groningen’s aerial threat became apparent when Van Der Laak failed to connect to a good cross by Silva, and Salmon just headed wide from a Sankoh cross. But in all way too little for 45 minutes of football from a team that is in Europe vs. a team that is expected to be fighting against relegation this season.
After the break the disappointing Lovre did not return. His place was taken by Levchenko who took up position on the left side of midfield. Fledderus moved from the position now taken by Levchenko to the vacant slot in central midfield. This looked to give Groningen more control over game, but despite that it was almost Everton again who nearly scored the 2-0 for Heracles after just 60 seconds into the 2nd half. Roorda however stood his ground and parried the shot. Groningen was clearly looking for the equaliser, and saw Silva putting a free-kick inches wide of the post in the 12th minute after the break. A few minutes later Heracles was not so lucky when left back Van Der Linden headed on a ball just inside the penalty area on the left side of the pitch. He was clattered by a Heracles defender, but the ball fell to Van De Laak who produced a low shot with his left foot that, although being touched by the Heracles goalkeeper, crept just in at the far corner.
This equaliser gave Groningen the inspiration it was looking for all afternoon, and was soon pressing for the winning goal. This fell earlier than expected when Rasmus Lindgren put a high ball into the box. Nevland tried to control it but was pulled to the ground by the arm, the culprit being experienced Heracles midfield man Maas. The referee, who had been having a rather poor game up to that point, gave one of his few good decisions of the day by awarding Groningen a penalty. Levchenko, who looks to be the Groningen penalty kick specialist now, made no mistake and converted the spot-kick beautifully: 2-1!
Poor Heracles had no reply and had to allow Groningen to look for more goals. This nearly materialised when Cornelisse, who replaced goalscorer Van De Laak, missed two shooting opportunities in the last minutes of the 2nd half. Silva meanwhile had been replaced by Florén in the 72nd minute. Silva is just back after injury and 90 minutes is still a bit much for the Uruguayan. Fledderus and Nevland looked spent too, but manger Jans had used his three substitutes.
In the added time Heracles managed to get a corner and a free-kick. Keeper Pieckenhagen went up for these, but both were wasted.
And thus ended a poor game with few highlights and footballing intelligence. It was won on pure grit and determination (and luck) on Groningen’s side. It leaves Groningen 3rd in the Eredivisie with 7 from 3, a very pleasant position. It could be argued that it is not a bad result in a ‘European week’ against a determined opponent to whom last season 4 points were lost. If however Groningen wants to come away from Belgrade with a result on Thursday, they will have to play a lot better than this.
Next weekend: Sparta Rotterdam away.
Line up FC Groningen
1(C) Roorda; 2 Silva (72’ 12 Florén), 3 Sankoh, 4 Kruiswijk, 5 Van der Linden; 6 Lindgren, 7 Van de Laak (83’ 14 Cornelisse), 8 Fledderus, 10 Lovre (46’ 15 Levchenko); 9 Salmon, 11 Nevland.
Rest of bench: 16 Van Loo, 13 Svejdik, 17 Seedorf, 18 Suárez.
Injured: Matthijs. Not in match squad: Holla.
Line up Heracles Almelo
1 Pieckenhagen; 12 Boakye, 23 Schilder, 3 Bosnar, 4 Klavan; 6 Maas, 10 Tanghe, 19 Everton, 20 Bridji (67’ 2 Daelemans), 21 Quansah, 11 Biseswar.
Rest of bench: 16 Pasveer, 5 Looms, 14 Smit, 17 De Vries, 18 Höcher, 22 Reekers.
Injured: 7 Hofstede, 8 Michalke.
Attendance: 19.814 (sellout)
Scores: 1’ Kruiswijk (o.g.) 0-1, 62’ Van de Laak 1-1, 69’ Levchenko (pen.) 2-1 .
Referee: Nijhuis
As. Referees: Simons en Langkamp
Fourth official: Diks
Yellow cards: 43’ Salmon, 45’+2’ Schilder, 59’ Kruiswijk, 60’ Everton, 68’ Maas.
www.fcgforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=1881