Slaying the Leader
Go Ahead Eagles Leading, Arghana seems to do nothing, but actually causes havoc in the opponent's defense!
"He's just a decoy. The real danger is elsewhere."
FC Volendam is trailing. In De Adelaarshorst Stadium, the crowd is almost filling the entire 8,000-capacity stadium because this match is a decisive one for both FC Volendam and Go Ahead Eagles.
However, FC Volendam's fighting spirit to catch up is strong.
They keep pressing despite being behind!
The defense line led by Leon Tol is under immense pressure.
Luckily, they manage to hold on until the 35th minute.
But, in the 43rd minute,
FC Volendam continues to bombard the Go Ahead Eagles' defense until, after a save by goalkeeper Nick Marsman, FC Volendam's main striker, Michiel Kramer, scores from a rebound shot.
The players of Go Ahead Eagles show expressions of disappointment and dissatisfaction.
If they could hold on for just a few more minutes, they could have gone to the locker room with the lead.
The first half ends in a draw, and both teams return to the locker room to rest.
===
Eric Ten Haag reiterates that the team must stick to their defensive counterattack strategy, and the most important thing is to maintain solid defense!
There aren't many attacking opportunities, at least until FC Volendam takes the lead, Go Ahead Eagles needs to have enough chances to counterattack.
Arghana clearly feels the fatigue in this match due to the packed schedule with two games a week, so he needs to drink more water than usual.
Captain Sjoerd Overgoor encourages the team, hoping everyone will fight hard in the second half to beat FC Volendam and secure the victory!
In another match, the duel between MVV and Fortuna Sittard is still intense with a 0-0 score.
Meanwhile, SC Cambuur, who is visiting SBV Excelsior, manages to score and leads 0-1.
This situation is putting more pressure on FC Volendam.
With those results, their position at the top of the standings is now under threat.
Winning is crucial to maintaining the gap from the nearest competitors.
The players of FC Volendam become more determined, increasing the intensity of their attacks to secure the crucial three points in this match!
Back to the field, the second half begins, and the situation is pretty much the same as the first half.
Arghana continues to run actively every time Go Ahead Eagles launches a counterattack, while still maintaining his defensive duties.
FC Volendam, through Lidro and Gerry Koning, keeps an eye on Arghana's movements, but they are not as tight as in the first half.
Clearly, FC Volendam is testing if their defensive focus has shifted.
Arghana hasn't shown any significant threat yet.
The pace of the game in the second half is much faster compared to the first.
Both teams create shooting opportunities frequently.
Arghana plays more of a supporting role in counterattacks but hasn't yet made enough of an impact to panic FC Volendam's defense.
===
At the 63rd minute,
Go Ahead Eagles launches a counterattack from the back on the right wing.
Fullback Bart Vriends brings the ball to the edge of FC Volendam's penalty box and receives a pass from Quincy Promes.
At that moment, Arghana sprints to the left side of the box, while Lidro and Koning close in on him to defend.
Bart Vriends delivers a cross that is intercepted by Paul, the central defender of FC Volendam.
However, due to a duel with Marnix Kolder, his header only clears the box slightly without going too far.
Go Ahead Eagles midfielder, Deniz Türüç, quickly welcomes the ball, controlling it with his chest, sets himself, and shoots!
The ball speeds towards the lower left corner of the goal!
FC Volendam's goalkeeper, Sonny Stevens, makes a valiant effort but is unable to reach the ball in time!
Deniz Türüç bursts into laughter and runs to the sideline to celebrate his goal!
Finally, after such a long wait, he scores two goals in a single match for the first time in his career!
The mentality of FC Volendam's players begins to waver, especially the defenders like Lidro and Koning, who were tasked with marking Arghana and felt they were succeeding, but now are in a state of panic!
After all, Arghana isn't the most dangerous player on the Go Ahead Eagles team!
They've made a mistake by focusing too much on Arghana's movements!
If they hadn't been so focused on him from the start, they might have been able to prevent Go Ahead Eagles' counterattacks more effectively!
But now, FC Volendam has to chase the game!
===
MINUTE 75
Go Ahead Eagles just failed to capitalize on an opportunity from Arghana on the left.
The loose ball is cleared far by Koning, directly to the center of the field—and that's where everything begins.
Volendam quickly reverses the situation.
Kevin Visser, the experienced general in Volendam's midfield, wins an aerial duel against Türüç.
The ball bounces right to Robert Mühren, who drops back to receive it, then passes it to the right.
Daryl van Mieghem!
He races down the right wing, running full speed along the sideline.
The away fans start to shout.
Van Mieghem cuts inside, playing with Doke Schmidt, who is late to step in.
He sends a cutback pass into the penalty box...
JOEY VEERMAN!!
From the second line! Unmarked!
One-touch control...
A small step, then a right-footed shot that slices through the grass, heading for the near post!
BOOM!!
GOOOOAL!!
The stadium goes quiet for a moment, then erupts in cheers from the away sector!
Veerman runs toward the corner flag, screaming toward the sky while raising his clenched fist!
Volendam's substitute players rush to the sideline.
2-2!
FC Volendam is still in the game!
On the Go Ahead bench, Ten Haag stands, his face stiff.
Arghana looks at the big screen showing a 2-2 score.
He takes a deep breath.
There's still time.
But clearly...
Volendam will not give up easily.
===
MINUTE 85
Arghana experiences the long-awaited sensation again.
The world around him slows down, the stadium noise fades.
Every opponent's movement is clearly visible to him.
And then, the moment arrives.
In the 90th minute +2,
A fast counterattack starts from the midfield of Go Ahead Eagles.
The ball flows swiftly to Arghana's feet on the left wing.
He receives it perfectly, controlling it with incredible calmness.
One-on-one with the opposing defender.
A feint, then a push inside.
Arghana passes his defender!
Two players try to close the shooting angle, but he spots a tiny gap.
With remarkable composure, he places a shot into the far corner of the goal!
The ball flies...
Sonny Stevens leaps!
Too late!
GOOOAL!!
The stadium erupts in cheers!
Go Ahead Eagles takes the lead 3-2!
Arghana falls to his knees on the grass, staring at the sky, feeling the intense euphoria.
On the sideline, Eric Ten Haag laughs in satisfaction.
This kid...
Amazing!
GOOOOLLLL!!!
The ball smoothly rolls into the net!
On the sideline, Go Ahead Eagles' coach shouts in hysteria!
In the stands, Volendam supporters are silent!
Their Eerste Divisie championship dream is shattered in a matter of seconds!
After the ball crosses the goal line and the net shakes,
The entire stadium is silent for a moment.
Then, in a few seconds, waves of cheers shake the night sky.
Arghana stands amidst the euphoria, raising his hands high, his fingers tightly clenched.
A victorious smile is painted on his face, but there's something else in his eyes—a vacant stare, as if his mind is still stuck in the moment before the ball left his foot.
His breath comes fast and shallow.
His legs, which had felt so light moments ago, now feel heavy.
The world around him starts to blur, the sounds become distant, blending into a faint hum.
Then, his body collapses.
As if all the energy left him with that final shot, Arghana crumples to the ground, his knees hitting the grass first before his body fully falls.
Sweat pours down his temples, his chest rising and falling quickly, his eyes staring at the sky lit up by the stadium lights.
In the midst of the celebration, his teammates, who were about to celebrate his goal, panic as they see him fall.
They rush over, calling his name, shaking his body anxiously.
But, amidst the exhaustion that binds him, Arghana can only smile faintly.
Perhaps this is the price to pay for that moment.