Rotterdam’s males struck their first main blow this season on Thursday. They gained the unusual topper towards Bloemendaal 4-2 at house, after spilling factors towards Pinoké (2-2) on Sunday. Because of this, Rotterdam has 4 factors after two rounds of play, yet one more than Bloemendaal.
It was unusual. Weird. And somewhat unbelievable. 4 minutes earlier than time, Rotterdam-Bloemendaal gave the impression to be heading for a 2-2 draw. There had hardly been any possibilities in This fall. That modified utterly when Jasper Brinkman was allowed to take the ball into contact. The defender touched the ball calmly. Appeared to put it prepared for a teammate. However Guus Jansen snatched the touched ball away from the Bloemendaal protection and shot arduous along with his backhand, making it 3-2.
Bloemendaal was livid and upset. Thijs van Dam scored the 4-2 simply after that, from a nook that was turned away. He celebrated as if his crew had simply change into champions. He went loopy.
There was a motive for that.
As a result of Rotterdam has had a rotten yr. They solely completed fifth as a result of they gained solely half of their matches. Within the first half of the season they misplaced seven video games and couldn’t get well from a weak part on the finish of March or starting of April. The EHL additionally turned out to be a disappointment: even there the third place was something however the objective.
Picture: Willem Vernes
The 0-1 that was too fast for the clock
In fact, the departure of membership icon Jeroen Hertzberger was not possible to soak up. However with out their figurehead, Rotterdam continues to be overflowing with high quality. They don’t have any fewer than six internationals, an Orange goalie in objective and a very good nook with Pepijn van der Heijden. These weapons make Rotterdam a title contender as soon as once more.
And Erik van Driel’s crew underlined that in entrance of its personal crowd Thursday evening, successful its first large recreation within the league since March 22. Then, too, they beat Bloemendaal: 4-3, in a recreation the place three targets fell inside fifteen minutes. Immediately, Rotterdam’s begin was as awkward as a site visitors jam on the Van Brienenoord Bridge.
The stadium clock had not even been turned on when the 0-1 was already on the boards. It fell after solely 23 seconds, from De Mussen’s first assault. The nook was dragged in by Teun Beins, via the legguards of Derk Meijer.
Picture: Willem Vernes
Quickly after, he noticed to his disbelief how Bloemendaal’s second nook, initiated by an exquisite solo by Lucas Veen, additionally resulted in a objective. Once more it was Beins who pushed arduous, this time into the roof of the objective. It ensured that for the second time inside ten minutes ‘Daar wordt ik niet vrolijk van’ by Gebroeders Ko resounded via the stadium. Certainly, the common tune performed in Rotterdam after a objective towards.
That tune – not essentially really helpful, by the best way – was nonetheless ringing within the ears of the Hertzberger stands, clearly a tribute to Rotterdam’s discontinued membership hero. The house crew turned a bit brighter within the second quarter after a really tame starting. There have been possibilities for Tjep Hoedemakers – on Bloemendaal goalkeeper Visser – and Joaquin Menini, who shot vast in a promising place. 4 minutes earlier than halftime the house crew’s work ethic was rewarded, via Hoedemakers who topped good chasing work by Steijn van Heijningen with the deserved tying objective.
Picture: Willem Vernes
The opposite face of Rotterdam
Rotterdam performed with out Olivier Hortensius on Thursday. The European Championship participant suffered an ankle damage in the course of the closing weekend of the ABN Cup. He additionally noticed how his crew grew within the match. Two corners by Pepijn van der Heijden earlier than halftime went unused. His youthful brother Timme tipped in a objective simply after the break. It was a part when abruptly all the things labored for Rotterdam, which confirmed a totally totally different face than in these first colorless ten minutes.
That dominance was rudely damaged by two sudden and large possibilities for Bloemendaal: Jasper Brinkman pushed a nook towards the stick of the Rotterdam line cease, a minute later the Belgian expertise Max Langer hit the publish. It was ready for the climax of the entertaining topper. One other explosion or inspiration. One final convulsion on Thursday evening.
In order that got here in any case. Largely due to that bizarre second on the head of the circle at Bloemendaal, which ushered in Rotterdam’s win.
