Rotterdam’s men struck their first major blow this season on Thursday. They won the strange topper against Bloemendaal 4-2 at home, after spilling points against Pinoké (2-2) on Sunday. As a result, Rotterdam has four points after two rounds of play, one more than Bloemendaal.
It was strange. Bizarre. And a little unbelievable. Four minutes before time, Rotterdam-Bloemendaal seemed to be heading for a 2-2 draw. There had hardly been any chances in Q4. That changed completely when Jasper Brinkman was allowed to take the ball into touch. The defender touched the ball lightly. Seemed to lay it ready for a teammate. But Guus Jansen snatched the touched ball away from the Bloemendaal defense and shot hard with his backhand, making it 3-2.
Bloemendaal was furious and upset. Thijs van Dam scored the 4-2 just after that, from a corner that was turned away. He celebrated as if his team had just become champions. He went crazy.
There was a reason for that.
Because Rotterdam has had a rotten year. They only finished fifth because they won only half of their matches. In the first half of the season they lost seven games and could not recover from a weak phase at the end of March or beginning of April. The EHL also turned out to be a disappointment: even there the third place was anything but the goal.
Photo: Willem Vernes
The 0-1 that was too quick for the clock
Of course, the departure of club icon Jeroen Hertzberger was impossible to absorb. But without their figurehead, Rotterdam is still overflowing with quality. They have no fewer than six internationals, an Orange goalie in goal and an excellent corner with Pepijn van der Heijden. Those weapons make Rotterdam a title contender once again.
And Erik van Driel’s team underlined that in front of its own crowd Thursday night, winning its first big game in the league since March 22. Then, too, they beat Bloemendaal: 4-3, in a game where three goals fell within fifteen minutes. Today, Rotterdam’s start was as awkward as a traffic 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 only 23 seconds, from De Mussen’s first attack. The corner was dragged in by Teun Beins, through the legguards of Derk Meijer.
Photo: Willem Vernes
Soon after, he saw to his disbelief how Bloemendaal’s second corner, initiated by a wonderful solo by Lucas Veen, also resulted in a goal. Again it was Beins who pushed hard, this time into the roof of the goal. It ensured that for the second time within ten minutes ‘Daar wordt ik niet vrolijk van’ by Gebroeders Ko resounded through the stadium. Indeed, the regular song played in Rotterdam after a goal against.
That song – not necessarily recommended, by the way – was still ringing in the ears of the Hertzberger stands, obviously a tribute to Rotterdam’s discontinued club hero. The home team became a bit brighter in the second quarter after a very tame beginning. There were chances for Tjep Hoedemakers – on Bloemendaal goalkeeper Visser – and Joaquin Menini, who shot wide in a promising position. Four minutes before halftime the home team’s work ethic was rewarded, through Hoedemakers who crowned good chasing work by Steijn van Heijningen with the deserved tying goal.
Photo: Willem Vernes
The other face of Rotterdam
Rotterdam played without Olivier Hortensius on Thursday. The European Championship player suffered an ankle injury during the final weekend of the ABN Cup. He also saw how his team grew in the match. Two corners by Pepijn van der Heijden before halftime went unused. His younger brother Timme tipped in a goal just after the break. It was a phase when suddenly everything worked for Rotterdam, which showed a completely different face than in those first colorless ten minutes.
That dominance was rudely broken by two sudden and big chances for Bloemendaal: Jasper Brinkman pushed a corner against the stick of the Rotterdam line stop, a minute later the Belgian talent Max Langer hit the post. It was waiting for the climax of the entertaining topper. Another explosion or inspiration. One last convulsion on Thursday night.
So that came after all. Mostly because of that weird moment at the head of the circle at Bloemendaal, which ushered in Rotterdam’s win.
by Hockey.nl
