Thom van Bergen saves FC Groningen a huge deception in Velsen. Next week it’s make or break against Roda JC

The plan was good. Actually, almost the entire Schoonenberg sports park in Velsen-Zuid should have been full of northerners on Friday evening. FC Groningen even submitted an official request to Telstar. The hope was somewhat based on mediation by Jakob Klompien, the current president of the Supervisory Board of FC Groningen, but until recently chairman of the board of the opponent.

The proposal was to sell all tickets that would remain at Telstar to FC Groningen supporters. The idea was that the knife cut both ways. The home club could look forward to a nice financial windfall and FC Groningen would be supported in the promotion race by a stadium where its own supporters predominated.

End the party

Unfortunately, in Velsen they saw little point in Groningen’s plans and the party was canceled. FC Groningen could have used the support, because things went wrong for the men of coach Dick Lukkien within a minute at Schoonenberg. The Groningen defense was still searching when the easily combining Telstar rolled out an attack down the left flank and Thomas Oude Kotte found Zakaria Eddahchouri in front of the goal. The striker, coveted by FC Groningen during the winter break, finished coolly.

Maybe it was also a bit of a request to the gods. In Groningen, especially among the outside world, there has been talk for weeks about the last home match against Roda JC. It had to and would happen, as if Telstar were a nobody. Nothing turned out to be further from the truth. In the course of the first half, FC Groningen also escaped the 2-0 and 3-0.

Promotional bibbers

The Lukkien brigade offered nothing in return before the break. Maybe the promotion bickers played a role. Anyway, FC Groningen played unrecognizable. The pace was too slow for the northerners, they did not get the pressure and Lukkien’s team also lacked creativity. The latter could not be seen separately from the loss of Luciano Valente. The injured attacking midfielder was often good for a decisive action or deep pass this season, but that did not happen this time. Replacement Rui Mendes did not reach the level of his dropped teammate.

The only opportunity FC Groningen had in the first half was a free kick from Laros Duarte, right in front of the Telstar goal, but the midfielder has lost his real sharpness for a while. That turned out to be the case again. After the break, Lukkien brought in the same eleven players. Looking at the bench the flush was also thin.

Fight like hell

FC Groningen often looked for attack after the break, tried to put more pressure on the opponent and also became dangerous a few times, including with a shot from Jorg Schreuders, but Telstar keeper Ronald Koeman – his father was in the stands – made the save. Stylish. Thom van Bergen was also close, but the home club also created a great chance from substitute Mees Kaandorp.

FC Groningen continued to fight like mad, but the purity disappeared and the opportunities dried up. In the meantime, it dawned on the stadium that closest competitor Roda JC was ahead against Cambuur. There was a very sour message threatening the people of Groningen, who have recently been fully committed to direct promotion. There seemed to be a way through, until Thom van Bergen headed the 1-1 against the ropes in Velsen well into injury time. It was an incredible denouement that kept Groningen hopes alive. The miracle should happen next week in a sold-out house against Roda JC. Only a win will bring FC Groningen straight back to the Premier League.