Defending champions PSV Eindhoven were in for a surprise at the “Seacon”, as Rachid Ofrany lobbed the ball over Heurelho Gomes as early as the second minute (1-0) – a birthday present to himself, since he only turned 21 last Thursday.
Venlo had only lost one of their previous 10 games, but they have now drawn seven out of 11 (!), since the Rood-Witten replied just 10 minutes later. New recruit Balázs Dzsudzsák scored his first goal in Dutch football in only his second outing as he capitalized on a Jeff Farfán pass.
It looked like Sef Vergoossen’s men would have their way when Peter Reekers received his marching orders just after the half-hour mark (32’), but it wasn’t to be, even though Ibi Afellay missed a great chance right at the death. The final score was 1-1.
Three-point lead
Even so, PSV Eindhoven stayed on top on 40 points, three ahead of Ajax who again had to settle for a draw against Nijmegen (1-1). Actually, they needed another Klaas-Jan Huntelaar strike, his 21st in 26 season appearances, to avoid another embarrassing defeat, four days after their 4-2 Beker humiliation at Breda.
On a muddy “Mc DOS / De Goffert” turf it was always going to be a matter of will and the hosts, fighting for their lives, broke the deadlock through Jeremain Lens after a quarter of an hour (16’, 1-0).
Adrie Koster threw on Dennis Rommedahl and Leonardo and after a few good chances the Johan Cruyff Schaal and Beker holders finally found their way back into the game when the sought-after Huntelaar pounced on a precise Kenneth Pérez ball to draw level (1-1).
Twente flying high
Twente continued their impressive run with a 3-1 win over Groningen, catching up with them at third place on 36 points - as many as Feyenoord, who have a game in hand, just like PSV Eindhoven and Ajax.
Blaise N’ Kufo scored twice (29’, 86’) to make it 16 for the season and Stijn Huysegems (53’) added a third for the hosts, while Ron Jans’ side could only hold on to Goran Lovré’s equalizer (47’) for six minutes.
Down at the bottom, a Charles Dissels brace (11’, 59’) helped Sparta Rotterdam to a stunning 6-1 drubbing of De Graafschap, who only pulled one back through Arnar Viðarsson (35’, 3-1). Yuri Rose (7’), Sepp de Roover (26’), Resit Schuurman (own-goal, 57’) and Nourdin Boukhari (68’) netted the other four, as the hosts, who have played a game less, only won for the third time in the campaign.
However, they dragged themselves out of the danger zone thanks to a better goal difference compared to Nijmegen and Excelsior Rotterdam.
The Ukrainian international moved to the Netherlands to join Vitesse in the summer of 1996. And he’s built a career for himself in the country, playing for three more Dutch clubs, including Sparta Rotterdam, before signing for Groningen in 2005.
A powerful left sided player, equally capable of holding a central midfield role, Levchenko has arguably been his side’s corner stone ever since, with 88 appearances and 18 goals to his name, even though he’s currently sidelined with injury. It was therefore no surprise that Groningen offered him a new deal back in October.
The 30-year-old international’s contract was to expire at the end of the season, but now, as the club officially announced today, he’s signed a one-year-extension which will keep him at Groningen until June 30, 2009.
In fact, the Amsterdam giants have found Twente’s demands outrageous, as Martin van Geel suggested.
“As far as Engelaar is concerned, I don’t have much to say,” the Ajax technical director told Algemeen Dagblad. “His club demand 15 million, an amount of money out of proportion for a 28-year-old. Therefore we will no longer deal with this matter.”
Not a matter of money
Twente chairman Joop Munsterman had already made his point talking to regional newspaper Twentse Courant Tubantia. “Van Geel asked me ‘Don’t you need the money?’ and I replied ‘No’. He had also offered a sum which was too low for us to let anybody go.”
Engelaar’s agent, Edward Burleson, revealed that the international all-round midfielder will not push Twente for a possible transfer, but gave away a hint or two on his client’s preference.
Agent leaves the door open
“Orlando would of course like to play for a bigger club, but he’s determined to take it one step at a time. He has ambitions, just like any footballer. But he won’t force a transfer by not playing or not training with the rest of the team.”
“He will assess the situation and then reveal his thoughts publicly. But should he favour a move to Ajax then Twente cannot shut their ears surely.”
The Roodzwarten, who had last triumphed over Feyenoord on April 27, 1986 by exactly the same score-line, stunned their rivals when they scored twice right after kick-off. Michel van Guldener made it 1-0 just five minutes into the match and then set up Geert den Ouden for the second goal (and his 10th of the season) on 11 minutes.
“Nine substitutions”
“Of course I’m angry, what do you think?” Van Marwijk told reporters after the final whistle. “We started off in apathy, just waiting for them to come on to us. And then we conceded twice in the first 11 minutes. When you play in torrential rain you should be awake.”
“I’m ashamed. You should ask the players what happened, although I feel entirely responsible. I can’t find the words to explain how I feel. I would have made nine changes if I could. The only one I’m not angry at is Tim de Cler.”
The visitors pulled one back through ex-Excelsior man Danny Buijs, his first of the season, on 80 minutes, but it was too little, too late for them. Excelsior, on the other hand, pulled themselves out of the danger zone with only their second victory in 10 games after beating the likes of Ajax on December 23!
Lokhoff in ecstasy
“We still have a long way to go, but this certainly feels nice. Of course, beating Ajax and Feyenoord can only count as a bonus. We can only make these unexpected victories matter if we also beat our competitors.” a delighted Ton Lokhoff said.
A former Feyenoord player, Lokhoff had also reason to feel disappointed, as Muhammet Aykut Demir and former Feyenoord keeper Ronald Graafland were taken off injured and they will seemingly be out of action for a while.
Coming through the ranks in Arnhem, Jansen made his debut with the club’s first team as an 18-year-old on December 12, 2002, when the Geel en Zwart lost 1-0 to Liverpool and were eliminated from the UEFA Cup.
In the years that followed he built his reputation as an up-and-coming defender, playing in 72 games and scoring eight times for Vitesse as well as making his way into the Netherlands under-21 side. He was considered such a gifted player that Marco van Basten invited him to train with the Oranje in 2005.
Heart condition
But then disaster struck. On May 15 of that same year, during a home game against Ajax Jansen collided with Steven Pienaar, now of Everton, and lost consciousness. He was immediately replaced and a month later he was diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia.
Jansen did not take part in a single competitive match ever since. And despite resuming training sessions last August, he cancelled his contract with Vitesse after “an advancing difference of opinion concerning his treatment”.
Off to Almelo
Feyenoord jumped at the chance and today announced signing the 23-year-old until the end of the season with an option to extend his contract for a further three years, should he return to action in the meantime. However, Jansen will have to look for first-team action elsewhere, as within hours from signing him Feyenoord have loaned him out to Heracles until June 30.
“This is a slice of luck for us,” technical director Peter Bosz told the Feyenoord official website. “Michael is an exceptionally talented player who has been sidelined by bad fortune for a long time. He’s now fully recovered from his heart problems. We will give him the chance to prove himself again at the highest level.”
Bosz, who had played for both Vitesse and Feyenoord himself, and coach Bert van Marwijk are still looking for reinforcements at the back, while the club have already allowed two of their defenders (Karim Saïdi on loan to Sivasspor and Pieter Collen to Sint-Truidense) to leave this month.
Defending champions PSV Eindhoven were in for a surprise at the “Seacon”, as Rachid Ofrany lobbed the ball over Heurelho Gomes as early as the second minute (1-0) – a birthday present to himself, since he only turned 21 last Thursday.
The Ukrainian international moved to the Netherlands to join Vitesse in the summer of 1996. And he’s built a career for himself in the country, playing for three more Dutch clubs, including Sparta Rotterdam, before signing for Groningen in 2005.
In fact, the Amsterdam giants have found Twente’s demands outrageous, as Martin van Geel suggested.
The Roodzwarten, who had last triumphed over Feyenoord on April 27, 1986 by exactly the same score-line, stunned their rivals when they scored twice right after kick-off. Michel van Guldener made it 1-0 just five minutes into the match and then set up Geert den Ouden for the second goal (and his 10th of the season) on 11 minutes.
Makaay has continued to score to goals in the Dutch Eredivisie as he did during his time at Bayern with 11 goals already this season.
Coming through the ranks in Arnhem, Jansen made his debut with the club’s first team as an 18-year-old on December 12, 2002, when the Geel en Zwart lost 1-0 to Liverpool and were eliminated from the UEFA Cup.
No, I don’t find the score-line flattering,” he told Tele 2 network.