Every club has an Angstgegner. A club that is almost impossible to beat. And certainly not with the opponent himself. Amstelveen Heemraad has such an Angstgegner in FC Almere. Playing three times at Almere for the competition and losing three times with four goals conceded. Last season, Amstelveen was the best in the first half and led 1-0 at halftime. After the break they had no chance with four goals conceded and a 4-1 defeat. After the two 4-0 scores (season 2005/2006 and 2017/2017), it could again be a difficult job on the lawn in Almere. Nothing turned out to be further from the truth and today the roles were completely reversed. Amstelveen won the match very convincingly 4-1 with goals from Jaïr Cruden (2x), Marc Groenland and Amir el Hadji. Almere’s only goal against came through the foot of Kevin Hogendoorn.
The match was a lively one from the kick-off and the first chance for Amstelveen came in the seventh minute. Max Flipse opened to Jaïr Cruden, who laid off to Lennard Eijsvogels and who then launched him with a good pass. Cruden slides past Bas Overweel and could only approach Stann Grosmann. Cruden’s bet was high, while losing to Amir el Hadji, who came along, could have resulted in more success. After almost fifteen minutes of play, Amstelveen took the lead. Lennard Eijsvolgels got the ball just outside the ‘sixteen’, cut out Ruben Steengraver and looked for the far corner. Stann Grossmann could only hold back and the alert Jaïr Cruden simply tapped in the released ball. The equalizer a minute later. Amstelveen defended sloppily at the back and the loss of ball meant the 1-1. Kevin Hogendoorn simply shoots in.
Penalty
Halfway through the first half, Lennard Eijsvogels had to come off injured. A loss for the team, because Eijsvogels was well in the match. He was replaced by Gelvio Esajas. Shortly afterwards, the whole of Almere screamed for a penalty when Scott Barkema’s bet hit Max Flipse’s hand, but referee Peter Steur did not think it was worth a pin. He found that a minute later on the other side when Amir el Hadji saw his action end on the ground when he went over Bas Overweel’s knee. Marc Groenland shot the penalty clean and Amstelveen had the lead again. Amstelveen could have finished it off in the last fifteen minutes with chances for Jaïr Cruden and even two for the good substitute Gelvio Esajas. Yet “only” 1-2 at halftime.
Rebound
After the break a better and brighter Almere without really creating chances and Amstelveen a bit more controlling. That changed halfway through the second half when Amstelveen made the difference. Jaïr Cruden was played well and could only approach Stann Grossmann. Grossmann came out of his goal well and reduced the angle, but there was no clamping. Amir el Hadji was able to shoot in the 1-3 from the rebound. Four minutes later, Almere failed to give itself some hope when Rogier Arduin appeared alone in front of Giovanni Santangelo, but managed to shoot wide in far too much haste instead of scoring. Ten minutes before the end, the crossbar prevented the final decision when Dwayne Wondel’s shot was an inch or two too high. Five minutes later it was 1-4 when Jaïr Cruden got the ball perfectly under control and left Grossmann without a chance. Amstelveen was freed from the trauma of not being able to win in Almere.
Satisfied
Norbert Alblas, coach of Amstelveen, looks back on the match with pleasure: “I think we played a very good first half, I am really satisfied with that. The fact that we only went into halftime at 2-1 is something we can blame ourselves for. It wouldn’t have been surprising if it had been 4 or 5-1. Then you see that Almere still believes in it a bit and that they did well after the break. But we have recovered very well and very deservedly won here”
Next week there will be a free competition on Saturday because of the cup programme. Almere can compete this Thursday (24-10) when they take part in the canceled away match against SCW and on Saturday, November 2, the top match is on the program for Amstelveen when Buitenveldert comes to visit and Almere goes to Nieuw-Vennep to cross swords. with VVC. Look here for all the results, the standings and the program in Saturday 3B
Text: Helmer Vercasman
Photos: Hans van Beek
