Kampong won the Gold Cup for the first time in club history on Thursday evening. The number three of the Tulp Hoofdklasse had no trouble with the home team, the struggling low-flyer from the Promotion Class, in the final in Almere. The score was 2-8 and the second cup final in a row for Almere also ended in a big defeat. Last year the team lost the final battle for the Gold Cup 6-2 to Den Bosch.
It never became a real cup battle on Thursday evening in a soaking wet and cold Almere. And that was especially a shame for the two thousand spectators who braved the rain and wind along the line to support their club. The circumstances did not invite much exuberance, and the enormous difference in strength within the lines did not help either.
Kampong without internationals
Kampong did not even take office at full war strength. As is known, striker Terrance Pieters is still recovering from a knee injury and Jip Janssen, Lars Balk, Duco Telgenkamp, Derck de Vilder and Jonas de Geus were spared. The five internationals had already completed a few tough training days with the Dutch team this week and were given rest to prevent overload. Goalkeeper David Harte was also missing for the Utrecht team, but that was also the case in the four previous cup rounds. Second goalkeeper Steven Verhoogt has been appointed as the first goalie by coach Tim Oudenaller this season.
Including youngsters Mees de Jong, Hugo van Beusekom, Jens de Vuijst and good old Pepijn Luijkx in the ranks, Kampong had the best of the game before half time, despite the lack of automatisms in this unusual formation. The team was awarded a series of penalty corners in the first fifteen, but without specialist Janssen it proved difficult to strike immediately.
Still, the 0-1 came on the scoreboard: a beautiful scoop from Sander de Wijn was brought under control in the circle by Rik Sprengers, who seemed to score with a flick of the wrist. Mats Gruter gave the ball the final touch: 0-1. Almere had one chance: a backhand shot from Manuel Verga was an easy target for Verhoogt.
The two thousand brave spectators at the Sportpark Klein-Brandt – many adorned with an umbrella or deeply hidden in their winter coats – finally had reason to laugh after twenty minutes: Isaac Jozefzoon was knocked down by goalkeeper Verhoogt after a wonderful solo, with a penalty ball as a just reward . That opportunity was eagerly taken by Youri de Bie: 1-1.
Unfortunately, the equalizer was not a prelude to a more balanced game picture. Kampong patiently continued to build new attacks, and received all the help from Almere, which gave away far too much space at the back. That gave Boet Phijffer the opportunity to freely cross the ball from the left to his brother Jelle, who shot hard into the 1-2. Almere could have enjoyed his equalizer for no less than two minutes.
Even before half time, the visitors dealt Almere another blow. From a penalty corner, Rik Sprengers dragged the ball low towards the incoming Boet Phijffer, who tipped the ball in with a wonderful dive: 1-3. The 22 soaking wet players then eagerly sought the changing rooms.
Telgenkamp goal by Boet Phijffer
The comfort of the warm dressing room was especially good for Kampong after the break. Striker Boet Phijffer showed that he is in excellent shape. With two goals he quickly lifted the score to 1-5 and the 1-4 in particular deserves a mention. From an impossible angle, in the left corner of the Almere circle, the young striker struck hard with his backhand. The ball disappeared unstoppably behind Almere keeper Fedde Hempel. It was a goal that Phijffer’s teammate Duco Telgenkamp has a patent for. He will undoubtedly have greeted the goal with applause from home.
Almere did try and at times entered Kampong’s 23 threateningly, but the number eleven of the Promotion Class could not create any real goal chances. The difference in individual quality with the losing finalist of the recent Euro Hockey League was simply too great for that. Just before the end of the third quarter, Silas Lageman increased the score to 1-6 from the rebound of an attack in which Hempel defused Boet Phijffer’s goal attempt.
Rik Sprengers made it 1-7 in the fourth quarter by scoring directly from a penalty corner. The spectators at Sportpark Klein-Brandt were resigned to it. They were able to cheer for their team for the second time nine minutes before time when Daan Hoepman scored from a mini-series of two penalty corners: 2-7. The final score was for Kampong: Casper Dobbelaar crossed from the right, after which Jens de Vuijst was able to tap in from close range: 2-8.
Watch the live stream of the Gold Cup final below
