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ADO play in Europe and WIN!!

(Fri 15 July 2011)

Yesterday evening saw the big day for ADO in Europe and your very own roving reporter watched the game live...on the television in the Goudenregen bar.

I was in contact with several ADO fans in the stadium in Lithuania and from what I could hear on the phone, the fans were partying big time. And that excitement was almost matched by that of the fans in the bar. The kick-off time of 6.00pm saw many miss the opening thirty minutes, but the bar filled up very quickly after that. The beers flowed, the cursing yelled, a great way to watch the local team play.

So now to the game; and what an exciting game it was. The first half was a slow affair, nothing to really mention apart from the fact ADO were very much in control of the game.

The second half was a much different game. The touch paper was lit on the hour when Tauras were awarded a penalty for an innocuous challenge by Philip Luksik in the penalty area. The decision was harsh yet understandable, but what wasn’t, was the fact that the referee then showed Luksik a red card, an unbelievable decision. The penalty was converted and Tauras were winning 1-0.

Lex Immers then got ADO back into the match but the level scores did not stay that way for long. With ninety seconds the Dutch player of Tauras, Seedorf scored a spectacular goal from outside the area making it 2-1 for the home team.

It all looked to be going against ADO until ADO was awarded a penalty kick themselves. Immers yet again was in a confident mood and beat the keeper easily to make it 2-2. Even on television you could hear all the fireworks being let off by the ADO supporters who totally outnumbered the home support.

With the clock ticking down ADO made a move down the left and as the cross came in, a defender panicked and sent the ball into the back of his own net, 2-3 for ADO.

At the centre circle, Tauras restarted the game and the final whistle blew after the first touch. The crowd went wild, the Goudenregen bar went wild and that was that: ADO’s first game in Europe for twenty four years had resulted in a win. The television pictures showing a very happy Maurice Steijn celebrating his first proper game in charge, with a valuable away win.

Next Thursday is the return game, there are some very nice displays from the fans planned and it should be a fantastic atmosphere. If you would like to attend the return match at home to Tauras on Thursday 21 July you need to be quick, as there are only very few tickets left available.

ADO Den Haag - FK Tauras:

When: 21 July, 2011 ~ 8.00pm
Where: Kyocera Stadion, Haags Kwartier 55, The Hague
Tickets: Adults from €12.85, <12 years from €6.90
Bookings: www.ado-denhaag.voetbalticket-shop.nl
Getting There: Kyocera Stadion has four parking lots and is accessible by public transport. See www.journeyplanner.9292.nl. HTM provides all valid ticket holders free transport by RandstadRail, tram and / or bus to and from the ADO Den Haag Stadion on match days.