On Sunday, ADO took on the current league leaders AZ Alkmaar. Going by recent results ADO looked to be on for a hammering, yet ADO’s performances have merited much more reward than they have gotten. A game such as this ADO I believe would settle for the worst display of the season and grab a point and for a change, have some luck on their side, as luck has certainly deserted the local team of late.

Well as it turned out, luck didn’t desert them, but the performance was by far the worst of the season. ADO was unrecognisable from the team who played at Heerenveen last weekend. Then there was a passion and some long spells of great passing and movement. This game had none of that. AZ was allowed to control the game from the kick-off and could have scored within thirty seconds.

The defence was all over the place and you could not help but feel sorry for Coutinho who was constantly left exposed to the oncoming forwards of AZ. The defence were notable by their absence through out the game. It was a truly shambolic display; none of the out field players did themselves justice at all.

Studs flying in the penalty area

In fact all of AZ’s goals were due to ADO’s inability to defend properly. Goal one came in the eleventh minute. Toornstra lost possession in the ADO half, AZ moved the ball quickly wide right to Roy Beerens who floated in the perfect cross to a totally unmarked Brett Holman inside the ADO penalty box, allowing him to finish with a neat right foot shot beating Coutinho low to his right, 1-0.

In the sixty-forth minute Ammi played a crazy ball across the pitch, it was played hard and inaccurate, Horvath was caught flat footed allowing the ball to run through to Beerens. Coutinho made a good save only for the rebound to fall perfectly for Adam Maher to strike the ball home, appalling defensive work; Coutinho rightly went ballistic, berating his defenders angrily 2-0.

Coutinho angry after a defensive error leads to an AZ goal

AZ’s third goal in the eighty-forth minute completed a hat trick of nightmare goals for the visitors. The entire backline seemed to freeze as Jozy Altidore played a one-two with Maher. Nobody moved and Altidore eased himself in on goal under no pressure to finish off ADO, 3-0.

Amongst the goals AZ also hit the post, the cross bar, Coutinho made saves at full stretch and saw several shots go just wide. It really could have been almost double figures.

AZ was just a force that was too strong for ADO to deal with. There is no argument with that statement. The home side showed what a team in top form can do against a side not working to its full potential. Hopefully the whole of the team and management will look long and hard at replays of this game and at least learn from it; if not, it is going to happen more than once this season.

Morec defending

At the after match press conference Maurice Steijn looked visibly shell shocked by the result. I feel for him as he was thrown in at the deep end of the management pond, and at the moment is struggling to stay afloat. Hopefully he can prove himself to be the manager every ADO fan wants him to be and turn things around. I believe what has to be looked at is that last season was a real surprise to everybody in Dutch football. The two seasons prior to that ADO had tough fights against relegation, surviving by the skin of their teeth, so all in all, they are still better off than normal, or is this clutching at straws?

Maurice Steijn talks to the press

ADO man of the match: Coutinho. Not that he could do much, but he showed willingness to try and protect the ADO goal.

Attendance: 16, 222

Next home game is on Sunday, 20 November against FC Utrecht. Kick-off time is 12:30. This is one of the few games per season when a clubcard is needed! The ticket office is open on Tuesday 13.00 - 18.00, Wednesday & Thursday 12.00 - 18.00 and on Friday between 12.00 - 20.00.

Text & Photos by Neal McClimon

www.itpphotography.com www.adoforexpats.com

neal@thehagueonline.com

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