On Saturday night two of ADO’s relegation rivals, Roda JC and Volendam, played out a 1-1 draw. This meant that there were still one place above the relegation zone, but only on goal difference. So at least they knew what was required of them this grey and misty Sunday. Behind one of the goals, ADO supporters unfurled a huge banner with the words “Fight for our Pride” on it.

Teams walked out to a fantastic welcome, fireworks ringing the pitch side, air canons deafening all and sundry and both sets of fans were boisterous in their reception of their respective heroes. Game started brightly enough, both sides seeming intent on attack. Play was open from the first whistle. ADO had the first opportunity after five minutes. Knopper volleyed the shot towards the Feyenoord goal, only for the ball to be easily gathered by Rob van Dijk.

After twelve minutes, Feyenoord had their first chance on goal. A run by the athletic and speedy Diego Biseswar left ADO players stranded, who crossed a ball in to the area where Tomasson ran on to fire a shot direct at the ADO keeper Waterman.

Forty minutes in, a long ball by Knopper is met by Hoogendorp, who cushions a controlled header to Powel. The move is slowed down by the referee standing still in front of the attacking Powel, not allowing him the space to pass the ball inside. By the time he had moved out of the way, the Feyenoord defence had pushed up leaving ADO’s Knopper in an offside position as he headed home, let off for Feyenoord especially as television replays showed he was clearly on side!

Half time: ADO unlucky not to be ahead, but on the balance of play, a fair ending to an entertaining forty five minutes. The first fifteen minutes of the second was full of energy and passion, but as for any significant goal mouth action? Nonexistent. Then on sixty two minutes, someone lit the ignition cord and the game exploded into an all action-packed spectacle.

Rankovic makes a strong run down the left side: his ball inside the box is met by ADO’s Powel and a combination of Feyenoord's goal keeper and defence, putting the ball out for a corner. From the resulting corner, Feyenoord seem to drift off as Derijck steals in for an easy header, 1-0. Two minutes later, Feyenoord's outstanding player Biseswar has a three touch combination with Roy Makaay whose chipped cross is met by the oncoming and so far invisible Jon Dahl Tomasson to use his right foot to side volley the ball in to the back of the net, 1-1.

Sixty five minutes and Biseswar is at it again, tormenting ADO’s defence as though they were a Sunday morning pub team. Dribbles around three players, plays a neat ball in to Makaay who screws his shot millimeters wide of the post. The visiting fans really begin to urge their side forward, sensing more goals to come. Seventy six minutes played as Feyenoord move out from defence on the right hand side. Denny Landzaat moves to the half way line before sending a pin point accurate cross field ball to Biseswar, excellent controlled, rounds one defender, crosses a nicely weighted ball to Tomasson who heads it home, 1-2.

ADO goes searching for an equalizer. Derijck chasing around like a whippet in midfield manages to intercept some central Feyenoord time wasting passing. Immers moves forward making himself clearly available, the ball is swung over to him and a quick cross to Powel ends with a well timed volley flying high over the bar from inside the Feyenoord penalty area.

Eighty one minutes have passed when a tackle on the very edge of the area by Landzaat on Verhoek leads to the referee pointing to the spot and awarding ADO a penalty kick. The Feyenoord players were furious and all charged over to the assistant referee. The referee and his assistant had a short talk and the decision was changed to a free kick in ADO’s favour on the very edge of the penalty area. The kick went through the wall, hit the right hand post and bounced along the line before going in, the stadium erupts and it is 2-2.

Straight from the kick off, Feyenoord surge forward, great skilful wing play on the left by Tim de Cler earns himself a vital opening to make a cross. Makaay ghosts in to the area and unmarked heads the ball simply in to the back of the net, 2-3.

Three minutes of extra time was shown on the assistants’ board. ADO knew they had to get something from this game. They threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Feyenoord defence. Numerous chances went begging. Only a desperate flying one handed save by van Dijk in the Feyenoord goal kept the points safely in the visitors' hands.

Thanks to some desperate defending and superb goalkeeping at times kept the score down from being a possible 6-6. The Feyenoord supports were ecstatic.  ADO’s fans clapped their down hearted team off the pitch. No team deserved to lose that match. A draw would have been the fairest result. Now ADO has two remaining fixtures in which to keep themselves in the top flight of Dutch football. They are still one place above relegation, still only on goal difference. Fingers are crossed and nails are being bitten as the season gets closer to its finale.

Attendance: 14,993

Next and last home game this season is on Sunday 10 May at 2:30 p.m. against Vitesse Arnhem.

Neal McClimon

neal@thehagueonline.com

www.itpphotography.com

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