PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES 22 July 2009

Wednesday 22 July saw ADO Den Haag, The Hague's local football team, hosting former Champions League finalists Valencia in the Forepark stadium in their biggest pre season game. A good crowd of 8,986 turned up in hot, damp and eventually heavy rain weather conditions; to watch a game of sixteen substitutions, two red cards and a poor excuse for entertainment.

The ADO crowd showed their sporting side as they gave the visitors a warm and appreciative welcome on to the pitch before kick off. The game started at a slow pace. Players not taking risks, just playing simple balls in to feet. Nothing of note happened for the first 18 minutes to ignite an atmosphere inside the stadium. A run by Vicente down the left had ADO’s Lorenzo Pique chasing shadows; a sharp cross to the far post was met with the head of Nacho Gonzalez to break the deadlock, 0-1.  

ADO were showing nothing and it was only due to a lack luster clearance by Moya in the Valencia goal on 20 minutes that lead to a sublime first time chipped shot by Ricky van den Bergh that only just cleared the bar from 20m out. Berry Powel also got his shooting boots on and tried to chip the keeper from 25m out. Only the quick back peddling and out reaching hand kept the score at 0-1. 35 minutes in, and the red mist descended and the red cards where shown. An innocuous challenge between the goal scorer Gonzalez and ADO’s van den Bergh resulted in both players getting to their feet and then exchanging punches.

All the players dived in to split them up and it took several minutes to calm it all down. The referee had no alternative to dismiss both the protagonists. When the game resumed, it was totally different in style. The adrenalin was flowing as the football was quicker and the tackles harder. The crowd began to roar the home team on. The fans now turned on the visitors, they got booed and jeered constantly for any length of time that they kept the ball. ADO took the game by the scruff of the neck and went on the attack. Several chances were opening, but nothing clear cut. That is until the 40th minutes when Danny Buijs was put through in to the penalty area by a quick free kick by Powel. With only the keeper to beat, Buijs kept his nerve and place the ball in to the bottom corner, 1-1 and deservedly so.  

The second half started with a totally changed Valencia team from that which started the game. A slow start then bang, 1-2 to the visitors. 48 minutes and from a corner on the right, David Navarro was left unmarked and allowed a free header. No real response from the ADO team. They looked as though their hearts were not in it. A loose ball from the usually reliable Rankovic on 57 minutes allowed Michel to get a shot in on goal that hit the post before crossing the line, 1-3.

It went from bad to worse. Just one minute later Valencia went 1-4 ahead. Kai van Hese the guilty one this time, giving the ball away. Up popped Jordi Alba to pass the ball in to the net. ADO were deflated and shell shocked. They had plotted their own downfall. The last half hour of play was terrible to watch. Both teams just going through the motions as the rain poured down heavier by the minute. The final relief was the sound of the referees whistle at the end of the game. Polite applause rippled around the ground for the players, if not for their efforts. I must admit I felt sorry for ADO’s keeper. Christian van Wijngen is only the fourth choice at ADO and he had been let down so badly by the players in front of him.  

End of a typical pre season game. Roll on the next one.  

FAMILY DAY 25 July 2009

The bright sunshine saw a great turn out for ADO’s big family day. Crowds of young and old turned up on mass to enjoy the many attractions. The biggest of all was the first team being introduced to their fans. It was great to enjoy the atmosphere and watch as the stars mixed with the supporters, chatting away happily, posing for photographs and signing numerous autographs. To be honest I do not know who was the happiest, the kids or the parents when the photos were being taken.

It was all just a sea of smiles. I thought the behaviour of all the players and staff at ADO was immaculate. No one appeared to be rushed or harassed when dealing with the fans attention. Believe me; I could not imagine any English premier club doing anything like this. I have now come to consider myself a true fan of ADO and I enjoyed the surroundings immensely, just being in the middle of it gave me such a buzz.

Apart from the players, the ladies of the cheerleading team were there. Many males, young and not so young took the chance to have a souvenir picture taken with them all.

At 5pm the outdoor events came to a stop and the fans made their way in to the stadium for the final pre season friendly against the Bulgarian team Litex Lovech. No, I had never heard of them before either! Apparently they are the reigning Bulgarian Cup holders. I was nervous watching the warm up, as they played small 5-a-side matches of one touch football. Never seen it played so well, I though ADO could be in trouble. As it turned out, they were.

Litex kicked off in an almost empty stadium. From the outset the Bulgarians showed that they were not here to play an easy game, but started with dangerous intent. They took the game to ADO, playing simple, yet quick one touch possession football, that ADO could not get near.

Litex took the lead on 11 minutes. ADO’s defence was caught napping as Litex made a sweeping move down the left. A slide rule pass put Francisco Da Silva clean through, with only Wijngen in the ADO goal to beat; he kept his composure and placed his shot inside the right hand post, 0-1.

ADO managed to make their first meaningful raid on the Litex goal on 20 minutes. Wesley Verhoek took the ball on the left wing and played a delightful ball inside to Karim Soltani. Unfortunately, Uros Golubovic was fully aware of his surroundings and came charging off his line to smother the shot. By now it seemed that the referee, Tom van Sichem, was definitely in favour of the visitors. Every single challenge by ADO was punished with a free kick. When an ADO player kicked the ball away, he was yellow carded as the rules state. Yet 5 minutes later, a Litex player did the same thing and nothing happened.

Litex took a two goal lead on the 44^th minute. Three Litex players charged in to the ADO penalty area, ion the melee of waiting defenders, one of them crashed to the floor for what was a clear penalty. Referee waved play on and Wilfried Niflore was able to waltz in and tuck the ball in to the net, 0-2. I believe relief was felt around the ground when the half time whistle blew.

Second half began promisingly for ADO, after 2 minutes they gained their first corner of the game. An opportunity they wasted badly. To cut a long story short, that was it from ADO in the second half. They were utterly dreadful. There was no confidence or communication within the entire team, including the numerous substitutes that were used. On 58 minutes this showed only too well. Yet another Litex attack was fizzling out, when ADO’s Csaba Horvath mistimed his clearance directly to Niflore, who struck an instant shot towards goal, it was a weak effort but took a wicked deflection off one of several players in the way. Goalkeeper stranded as the ball crossed the line, no fault of his making, 0-3.

Eighty-eight minutes and the most absurdly bizarre goal I have ever witnessed. A true comedy of errors. Twice ADO had the chance to clear the ball away to safety; twice the players involved slipped and scuffed their kick.  Svetoslav Todorov then took control of the ball and played it across to Georgi Milanov whose sweet chip beat Wijngen and hit the crossbar. As the Wijngen turned to see what had happened, the ball dropped in front of him and he knocked it in to his own goal. So unlucky; but even the ADO fans near me were laughing. A crazy way to go 0-4 down.  Thankfully for ADO players and fans, the final whistle blew seconds later and everyone was put out of their misery. The players were booed off the pitch by what was now almost an empty stadium. After the last two performances I am starting to worry about ADO’s season ahead. Defence, woeful. Forwards, just not clicking and lack confidence. Midfield is just about holding things together.

The next home game is the first of the new season. Sunday 2^nd August, NAC Breda are the visitors. Kick off time 14.30. There are day cards available if you wish to attend. You must take legitimate ID with you, such as passport or driving licence to purchase the ticket.

I wish ADO much luck and success next season. After the last two displays, they are going to need it. LIBERTE”!!!!!

By Neal McClimon
neal@thehagueonline.com
www.itpphotography.com
 

If you wish to comment or express an opinion about this article please e-mail the editor@TheHagueOnLine.com