In the 26th game of the season ADO Den Haag battled valiantly to come from behind to seal a 1-1 draw in a typical relegation crunching six-pointer contained within the walls of Het Forepark Stadion.

ADO kicked off and started the livelier, with an immediate attack down the right flank setting off Wesley Verhoek who won a corner. The corner resulted in ADO’s first shot three minutes into the game. The relegation dog-fight had well and truly begun and neither team was really controlling the ball in midfield which meant the game was wide open.

Wesley Verhoek looked like ADO’s likeliest match-winner with numerous skillful runs down the right and pin-point crosses. However without any strong finishers in the final third you wondered whether to Milic would have been a useful player to have on. Wesley Verhoek won yet another corner for the home team, it was whipped in and Danny Buijs' header was cleared off the line by Nicky Hofs and, when Wesley Verhoek returned the ball into the penalty area, Timothy Derijck headed it wide.

Vitesse slowly but surely came into the game with a quick pass and move style which earned them their first cross 17 minutes into the game. In comparison with Verhoek, Vitesse’s number 9, Lasse Nilsson was having a successful game up front, with his quick-feet earning his team a free-kick perfectly placed on the edge of the box. The follow-on shot curled just wide of ADO’s keeper Zwinkels right-hand post.

Direct attacking play was bombarding down both sides of the pitch and both teams looked nervous of conceding the first goal. ADO earned their 4th corner and as it floated in, Derijck and Buijs got in each others way. The easiest of free headers was missed.Then Nilsson agitated ADO’s defence by winning yet another free-kick in exactly the same place on the edge of the box. Take two. This time Nicky Hofs, their dead-ball specialist, corrected his earlier failure by scorching the ball in on target. Unluckily it pounded off the crossbar much to the away team’s disappointment. This was followed up by a reaction header from Paul Verhaegh that narrowly glided over the goal.

The fans appreciated the half time whistle as this goalless first half came to a close and gave them a chance to warm-up their freezing limbs. This relegation battle had never really begun with both teams looking nervous of defeat.

The second-half kicked off and the fans, players and coaches were revitalized and ready to go. As time passed, the same game reappeared with ineffective long balls and inaccurate passing surrounding one or two moments of attractive football. The game was crying out for a goal as were the fans. Vitesses’s Nilsson sped down the wing only to take one too many touches letting the ball trickle over the line.

The mere 65 Vitesse fans were outraged and thumped on the plastic wall surrounding them, creating the first real excitement.

The first goal finally came in the 57th minute when Kolk threaded a ball through to Lasse Nilsson. The Swede unleashed a merciless strike which seared past Robert Zwinkels’ helpless hands. Vitesse took an undeserved lead which immediately made the game more attractive.

ADO went all-out throwing players up front and attacking with full force.

Vitesse’s lead was short-lived. In the 66th minute as Vitesse’s centre-back came off to receive treatment, leaving Vitesse’s defence disorganized. A short corner was played and the subsequent cross was met perfectly by ADO defender Christian Kum, who set Het Forepark Stadion alive with fans bouncing up and down to the sound of Liberté. The loud Vitesse fans were silenced as they slumped back down in their seats. This was going to be a troublesome 20 minutes for the away team.

On 73 minutes, ADO made their first sub in hope of securing the three points. Number 19 Oper came off to allow number 9 Bogdan Milic on, who was accompanied by a discouraging bellow of jeers from the home fans. Vitesse made a defensive substitute by bringing Gravennbeek on for Kolk. Almost immediately Milic got his first chance. However he embarrassingly tangled with his own teammate Soltani, the crowd enjoying Milic’s chaotic time under the flood lights of Het Forepark.

After 78 minutes, Vitesse made another defensive substitution in hope of securing the 1 deserved point. Nicky Hofs went off with Pröpper coming on. ADO seemed to be the team attacking the most in the latter stages of the match and as the ball broke to Luijckx five yards out he hit it straight at Vitesse’s keeper.

A surprising sub was made by ADO on 89 minutes. Knopper replaced Soltani who went off to the jeers of the ADO fans responding to his announcement earlier this week that he is going to leave the club at the end of the season.

In the 3 minutes of added time vitesse made their third and final substitution bringing goalscorer Nilsson off for Van Diermen.

The result left Vitesse still one place and one point clear of the final relegation play-off spot occupied by their hosts.

ADO Den Haag 1 – 1 Vitesse (Arnhem)
Christian Kum 65’ Lasse Nilsson 57’

Attendance: 10,132

ADO man of the match: Wesley Verhoek for ruthlessly bombing down both wings earning many corners, including the one which scored the goal.

Next ADO home match is against VVV Venlo on Sunday 21st March, kick off 14:30. For this match, there will be again day cards available if you show legitimate photo i.d.

Text by Wilf Elliott
Photo’s © Neal McClimon
neal@thehagueonline.com www.itpphotography.com

Images:

1 - Verhaegh of Vitesse has long range shot

2 - Derijck misses early ADO chance

3 - ADO out muscled on the attack
4 - Kum heads home the equalizer
5 - Brave keeping denies ADO

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