ADO welcomed PSV Eindhoven and former ADO defensive super star Timothy Derijck to the Kyocera yesterday afternoon. Derijck, formerly a huge hero of the home support was given a wonderful reception on his return to the club: A welcome that was thoroughly deserved as he had often sweated blood for the club whilst playing for ADO.

Once the sentimental stuff was over it was on to the game. After picking up only one point from the first two games, ADO was looking for good performances all around to kick start their season. It was a shame that it just didn’t happen for the home side.

Vicento watches on as another ADO attack breaks down

In the early exchanges it looked as though the game was going to be a real battle with both teams looking to take an early advantage, but for both sides, but the finish was not there at the end of the moves. PSV had several shots on goal, all long range efforts and all too easy for ADO to deal with as most went high or wide never troubling Coutinho.

Toornstra getting into the action

Coutinho saves at full stretch

Then ADO just switched off, can’t explain why, but the entire team just lost concentration as a whole and PSV took advantage of the ADO team’s complete lack of cohesion and effort. The same happened at FC Groningen last week.

Three goals came in quick succession, all basically down to PSV being able to cut through a non-existent ADO defence like a hot knife through butter.

In the twenty-first minute PSV crafted a slick move that no defender could get near, passing at its very best resulting in an easy finish for Dries Mertens.

Twenty-three minutes in and PSV extend their advantage, more great passing, more sloppy defending and a sublime finish by Georginio Wijnaldum lashing the ball into the net past a helpless Coutinho.

ADO looked frightened to put the foot into a challenge, they backed off far too often, allowing time for the PSV forwards to dissect them at their leisure.

A third goal came in the thirty-ninth minute. PSV allowed too much time to do as they wish. A shot from outside the box by Mertens was not dealt with by ADO’s keeper who allowed the ball to bounce back off him straight to Ola Toivonen who had the easiest job to place the ball into the net.

It was disgraceful from ADO; this is not what you expect to see from a team who were playing in Europe only a few weeks ago. The half time whistle blew and the home team left the pitch to a crescendo of boos.

As soon as the second half began, it was easy to tell that Maurice Steijn has some good man management skills, I can only imagine the rollicking he must have given his players, whatever he did it worked as ADO were a completely different side. Tackles were flying in, players were supporting each other, even got a bit feisty at times and a few yellow cards were issued, but it got the crowd going and it finally began to feel like a top football match was actually taking place.

ADO had a few chances but none that really threatened the PSV goal. Coutinho had to make a few good saves at point blank range after the PSV forwards were at times given a bit too much time and space. The second half display was a great improvement on the first.

The game ended with no change to the score line. What was clear from the game is that ADO is in definite need of a Bulykin type centre forward. They have nobody who is an instinctive goal predator at all. There is no real height up front either apart from Immers. So when the crosses are put into the danger area, there is nobody really capable of capitalizing on the chances.

Now that Derijck has gone, there looks to be no real leader on the pitch, no real vocal encouragement on the field. With ten days remaining of the transfer window, I hope ADO can get a couple of people in to rectify these two major weaknesses.

ADO man of the Match: Charlton Vicento, One of the few who actually looked as though had a desire to fight for ADO throughout the game.

Attendance: 12,710

Next home game is on Saturday, 10 September against RKC Waalwijk. Kick-off time is 19:45. It is an open sale so the owning of a clubcard is not necessary. You may collect tickets from the stadium ticket office as long as you provide legitimate photo ID such as driving license or passport.

Text & Photos by Neal McClimon

www.itpphotography.com

neal@thehagueonline.com

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