NOS Football•Sunday, 9:56 PM
It was one of those typical ‘all the trimmings’ matches. Heracles-Ajax (3-4) not only scored many goals, there was also a world-class goal to admire, the post and crossbar were hit, there was a disputed penalty kick and a perhaps decisive red card. And of course a match winner.
To start with the latter: Wout Weghorst gave his already growing reputation as supersub yet another boost. As a substitute for Brian Brobbey, he gave Ajax the lead twice when the score was 2-2. The second time from a self-deserved penalty.
‘Just a penalty’
“It was a beautiful afternoon,” was the logical response from Weghorst, who played football for Heracles between 2014 and 2016. “It’s a nice place to come back to. It was a long time ago, but I still saw familiar faces left and right.”
Weghorst happy with an important role at Ajax: ‘Have to be ready when I come in’
The striker started on the bench and from there saw how Brobbey squandered opportunities again. Weghorst wisely did not respond to the suggestion that ‘if I were standing there, I would make them’ crossed his mind at those moments.
“Ultimately you want to be successful together. The only thing I can do is focus on my own role. I have to be ready when I come in. And then you have only one goal: to make a difference.”
Brobbey or Weghorst: ‘You choose the striker who scores, right?’
And that worked. With a striking header and therefore a penalty after a foul by Max Bruns. Weghorst: “He said: ‘That was very light. Was that a penalty?’ The ball fell a bit dead in between. I sprinted towards it and the moment I wanted to take a swing, I was hit and thrown off balance. In my eyes it was just a penalty.”
Bruns is disappointed after defeat against Ajax: ‘In my opinion, a cheap penalty’
The sinner experienced this differently. “In my opinion it was a cheap penalty,” said Bruns. “I don’t think I’m doing much wrong. Or I have to stop running. I try to get in front of Wout, but I don’t push or anything. I think the referee lets him run into midfield.”
Crucial moments
Heracles coach Erwin van de Looi did not want to waste too many words about it. “Yes, well… I’m the trainer of Heracles, right? I don’t know. In any case, I didn’t give it to him during training. But that doesn’t matter.”
“In the end, Wout did well for Ajax,” Van de Looi complimented. “He scored a penalty for Ajax and he was involved in the red card. Those were two crucial moments in the match.”
Van de Looi is disappointed with Weghorst’s starring role: ‘Maybe we were just a little too naive’
The only Heraclian who left the field with a broad smile despite the defeat was Mario Engels, who surprised Ajax goalkeeper Remko Pasveer after half an hour with a curved ball from his own half. “The goal of my life, I think. And the fact that it happens in such a match is very nice, of course.”
“The ball came perfectly,” said the German, “and I thought: I’ll give it a try. I thought: I hit it very well, it can come in. If it then goes in: madhouse. It’s a shame that it was not for a win or a draw, but still: I am very happy with such a goal.”
A bit of instinct
Van de Looi admits that when Engels lashed out he didn’t get any further than: what is he doing?! “He might think that often,” Engels suspected. “It was a bit of instinct. I also did it once at Sparta in a practice match, but then it hit the bar. Today it went in very nicely.”
Pasveer, the victim of the feat, was disappointed, but also expressed his appreciation. “As a goalkeeper, I am very busy setting up the organization. If Sutalo then moves in, I have to ensure that Baas is in the right position if we lose the ball.”
“But Sutalo plays the ball directly into Engels’ feet, who immediately takes the ball in his slipper. I was surprised by it, because we were in possession of the ball. But he hits it great, a truly world-class goal.”
Pasveer after spectacle with Heracles: ‘Luckily we win, but I am not happy’
