Berghuis qualifies words from last week
In an interview with ESPN, Steven Berghuis revisited his words from last week. The Ajax right forward then indicated that he and Steven Bergwijn cannot mean too much in the defensive organization from the vanguard. Berghuis also said that he and Bergwijn should be ‘cherished’ at Ajax.
He especially regretted the latter. “I’m disappointed with my choice of words,” Berghuis said. “I would like to take that back.”
News from Spain: Xavi gone after season
FC Barcelona will have to look for a new coach after this season. At the press conference after the lost match with Villarreal (3-5), current coach Xavi said that he will leave the Catalans after this season. The 44-year-old Xavi still had a contract until the end of next season.
“The players need a different dynamic and a new situation,” the club icon explained his decision. “I think it is necessary. It is time for change and to leave,” said Xavi. “I spoke to the board about it today and I will be leaving on June 30.”
EXC-UTR | 76′ Excelsior starts
As boring as the first half was, the second is just as exciting. After the two quick goals just now, Excelsior is now on the attack.
For the time being, Utrecht is holding out.
HER-AJA | 56′ Goal Ajax!
Berghuis gives Ajax the lead. After a nice through ball from Hlynsson, Berghuis shoots the ball into the far corner.
The goal had been hanging in the air for a while.
EXC-UTR | 38′ Utrecht starts
Utrecht continues to chase the 0-1. Jans’ team has managed eight shots so far, while Excelsior has only managed that once.
Still, it remains 0-0 for the time being.
AFP
HER-AJA | 32′ Ajax dangerous three times in a row
Ajax has been close to a goal three times. First Taylor tries to surprise keeper Brouwer from a difficult angle. Moments later, Berghuis misses an opportunity and finally Brobbey is just unable to finish after having rounded Brouwer.
Heracles has to be careful now.
HER-AJA | 24′ Kans Heracles
After a pinball moment in Ajax’s sixteen, Wieckhoff gets a shot opportunity. His effort seems to hit Taylor’s hand, but Higler doesn’t think it’s enough for a penalty.
Ajax has been warned (again).
HER-AJA | 10′ Taylor shoots over
Ajax has the ball and becomes dangerous every now and then. Forbs, who plays on the left for Bergwijn, just brought Taylor into position.
The midfielder was able to take a swing with his left, but his shot sailed over a meter.
RKC-SPA | 82′ Goal Sparta!
With one man less, RKC is struggling. After a look from the VAR, the ball went on the spot after a foul by Clement.
Kitolano shoots him into the corner with a mischievous hop.
Score RKC – Sparta: 1-1
AFP Protest from RKC was to no avail
RKC-SPA | 75′ Red for Roemeratoe
A rash, flying tackle by Roemeratoe is punished with red. It is an unnecessary and serious setback for RKC.
Another fifteen minutes for Sparta to go for the equalizer with one more man.
RKC-SPA | 70′ Chance for Sparta
Sparta almost comes to the same level in Waalwijk. Warmerdam breaks through on the left flank, but he pushes the ball just wide.
Furthermore, Sparta has enforced very little today.
The match is over for Noa Lang. He is replaced by Mauro Junior. It must have been nice for Lang to start a match again. The last time he kicked off was on September 8 against Sparta.
PSV mercenary Van Duiven has joined Almere City.
Pro Shots
PSV ALM | 55′ PSV is running better
Things are going a bit better at PSV than before half time. Bosz’s men easily get through the defensive lines of Almere City.
It just provided Bakayoko with a second chance in a short time, but Bakker could not yet intervene.
Second half started in Eindhoven and Waalwijk
Football is being played again in Eindhoven. Immediately after the restart, PSV became dangerous, but Bakayoko headed in poorly.
The second half has also kicked off in Waalwijk. RKC player Gaari was replaced by Lelieveld at halftime.
HER-AJA | Henderson and Bergwijn are not included
Ajax starts without signing Henderson and without captain Bergwijn. Instead of Bergwijn, Forbs is on left winger.
At Ajax, Silvano Vos is back in the selection after a long absence due to an injury. Talent David Kalokoh is also included. He replaces Gabriel Misehouy, who does not want to extend his contract (yet).
NOSNOSThe line-up of Heracles against Ajax
Rest in Eindhoven and Waalwijk
Of the four teams playing now, PSV enters the dressing room the happiest. The Eindhoven team took the lead just before the break through De Jong.
RKC started against Sparta, but did not score yet.
PSV ALM | 45′ Goal De Jong!
PSV is 1-0! De Jong volleys in a cross from Dest with complete conviction. It is his sixteenth goal of the season.
For Almere City, which managed to hold out well in the first half, it was a tough pill to swallow.
AFP
PSV ALM | 40′ The best man: Bakker
Almere City goalkeeper Bakker excels in the first half. With every PSV opportunity, although there were not very many, he intervened adequately.
Bakker keeps goal with confidence: not surprising, because after Benitez from PSV he is the one with the most clean sheets this season (7).
AFP
PSV ALM | 33′ Dangerous breakout Almere
Suddenly Almere City flies out. The ball arrived at the feet of Cathline in the PSV sixteen, but he did not do enough with it.
After a brief conflict with the ball, he passed to Resink. He was able to take a swing, but shot high.
PSV ALM | 24′ What a pass, Boscagli…
From the center of the defense, Boscagli strokes the ball over the Almere defense, perfectly tailored for Bakayoko.
He receives the ball well, but then finds Bakker on his way. He also took advantage of an opportunity for Lozano.
Van Duiven will most likely come in
Jason van Duiven was loaned out to Almere City by PSV this winter. The striker made an impression in the first division for Jong PSV in the first half of the season.
Alex Pastoor has not yet put him in the starting line-up, but announced to ESPN that he will “do everything he can to bring him in”.
PSV will be without Veerman and Tillman for a while
Joey Veerman and Malik Tillman are missing from PSV tonight. The match against Almere City comes too early for the injured duo.
PSV is missing another midfielder with Ismael Saibari. The Moroccan is currently in Ivory Coast for the African Cup of Nations.
AFP
Big and annoying news in Dutch women’s football: Jill Roord has torn her cruciate ligament. In the match against Manchester United the Manchester City’s attacking midfielder suffered a serious knee injury.
Roord is expected to be out of action for many months. If the Dutch team qualify for the Olympic Games via the Nations League, Roord will not be there in Paris.
“Jill remains under the care of City’s medical team and is beginning her rehabilitation. Everyone at City wishes her a full and speedy recovery,” the Manchester club wrote. Roord went to the ground after eight minutes of play in the match against United.
GettyJill Roord on ground
Will Henderson make his debut in Almelo?
Does John van ‘t Schip dare to compete on the artificial grass of Heracles tonight with new signing Jordan Henderson? The Englishman has been training with the Ajax selection since Wednesday, but yesterday it turned out that Van ‘t Schip may think it is a bit too early.
“Jordan played his last full match in Saudi Arabia just before the turn of the year. Then they had a break and he was in England for a while,” he said on the Ajax club website.
“He has now been without a competitive rhythm for a month, plus the fact that he had not trained in a group for a while. We have to see to what extent he can play part of the game or not at all. That is something we are still going to decide.”
AFP
Sought-after NEC star Mattsson paints and makes music: ‘Above all, he wants to be a good person’
Around noon, a blond boy walks into the NEC canteen in good spirits. Wearing his training jacket, he shakes hands with the press present. “Good afternoon,” it sounds loudly.
The Danish midfielder sits down with a mischievous look and introduces himself in fluent Dutch. “I’m Magnus,” he says, followed by a firm handshake. Magnus is Magnus Mattsson. Top scorer, creative brain and therefore the trendsetter of NEC.
Because with ten goals and four assists, he leads both the top scorers list and the list with the most assists at the club this season. And that is surprising. This is already his third season in Nijmegen service. In the previous two years he never achieved more than four goals per season.
