Final Play Off (4)
During the halftime break, the Go Ahead Eagles players returned to the locker room with faces full of burden.
Captain Xandro Schenk stood up first.
With a regretful look, he said to his teammates,"I take responsibility for the goal earlier. I can't run away from that mistake."
Before Xandro Schenk could continue, Xander Houtkoop immediately stood up and gave him a tight hug.
Then, he said something that Arghana would remember for the rest of his life.
"Don't blame yourself. You don't need to apologize.
You're a great captain, a role model for many players. Without you, we wouldn't have made it this far!
The game isn't over, and we still rely on you.
Captain, get up! We need you in front, as our protector!"
Xandro Schenk stood silent for a moment, his eyes shining, then nodded firmly.
"Thank you, Xander."
"Hey, we're a team! If I don't support you, then who will?"
Xander Houtkoop, who was two years younger than Xandro Schenk, perhaps understood his captain's feelings better than anyone else.
Both were nearing their 30s, and this might be one of their last opportunities for glory!
On the other side, Arghana watched this moment with mixed feelings.
For him, this was the essence of a team.
Beautiful words are often written in books, but how do you face real situations on the field?
Only courage and unity can answer that!
Marnix Kolder clapped his hands, grabbing everyone's attention, then said,
"Now is not the time to regret the goal earlier.
We need to think about how to turn things around in the second half!"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
When Eric Ten Haag returned from the tactical area, all the players looked at him.
A great deal of pressure was clearly visible on his face. He might have been even more nervous than the players themselves!
He took a deep breath, then spoke with emotion.
"FC Volendam thinks the match is over.
They believe promotion is already in their hands.
They think they'll leave De Adelaarshorst with smiles of victory.
NO! They're wrong! They're very wrong!"
"We haven't said the match is over! We haven't lost! The battle is still on!"
The atmosphere in the locker room suddenly became fiery!
The players began to feel the passion they had lost!
They knew Eric Ten Haag was trying to motivate them.
However, one thing was clear—they knew there was no magic strategy that could change the situation!
It wasn't because they doubted the coach's ability,
but the reality was that this team had technical limitations!
There was no player who could dribble past three defenders like Messi.
No playmaker who could create magical chances from tight spaces.
If they had players like that, Go Ahead Eagles would have been promoted before this match even started!
If they had genius players like that, maybe this club wouldn't even be able to keep them!
In the end, there was only one way: to work hard to create opportunities within their limitations!
And when those opportunities came, they had to take them!
Difficult? Of course!
But if they gave up, the outcome was already clear: DEFEAT!
===
The referee blew the final whistle.
The second half began!
De Adelaarshorst roared again!
FC Volendam played more defensively!
They didn't want to take any risks!
FC Volendam couldn't concede a goal!
They realized that if they conceded one goal, they would lose because of the away goals rule!
Although the aggregate score was still tied, one goal for Go Ahead Eagles would be disastrous for FC Volendam.
In this system, away goals counted more—this would eliminate Volendam!
So, their main task now was to defend at all costs!
On the other side, Go Ahead Eagles played more aggressively!
They kept launching attacks from both wings!
However, the two central defenders of FC Volendam—Henny Schilder and Leon—were very strong in the air.
Every cross sent by Arghana or Quincy Promes was cleared away by them!
From midfield, Deniz Türüç and Marnix Kolder alternated taking long-range shots.
However, their shots were either blocked or missed the target.
In the midst of the deadlock, Arghana kept running tirelessly!
Sometimes he sent crosses.
Other times, he entered the penalty box to meet the ball.
Sometimes he dropped back to help defend and fought to win the ball.
His feet almost never stopped moving!
But there was no real result!
Go Ahead Eagles were stuck in a stalemate!
Neither their individual efforts nor their team combinations were able to create any significant threats against FC Volendam!
Time kept ticking!
However, in the stands, Go Ahead Eagles supporters never stopped cheering!
They still believed!
On the sideline, Eric Ten Haag kept shouting instructions.
"Attack! Run! Press! Don't stop!"
Sometimes he clapped his hands loudly to encourage his players.
He no longer cared about his own expression!
But one thing was certain—he wasn't panicking!
He knew that one goal could change everything!
On the other side, FC Volendam began making substitutions.
In the 65th minute, Jack Tuyp was substituted out.
In his place, Robert Mühren, a pure right-back, came on.
Clearly!
They wanted to defend their lead until the end!
Could Go Ahead Eagles break through this increasingly tight defense?
On the sidelines, FC Volendam's coach, Hans de Koning, stood with his hands in his pockets.
His face was full of confidence, and his chin was slightly raised, making the Go Ahead Eagles supporters furious!
Since the beginning of the season, FC Volendam had always been at the top.
After the second half of the league began, they stayed in second place with stable performances and an impressive record.
Had it not been for the draw and loss against Go Ahead Eagles in the final regular season match, FC Volendam wouldn't have given Go Ahead Eagles a chance to fight until the last match!
For them, the promotion ticket should belong to the more stable and stronger team!
But to avoid surprises in the final minutes, Hans de Koning made another substitution in the 70th minute.
Soufiane Laghmouchi was substituted off, and Levi Schwiebbe came in.
This substitution aimed to increase the mobility of their midfield and strengthen ball possession.
The situation became even more difficult for Go Ahead Eagles!
Now, FC Volendam not only defended tightly but also played the ball to waste time!
They deliberately slowed down the tempo by holding the ball in their own half, making the Go Ahead Eagles players more frustrated!
In the 72nd minute,
Arghana tried to win the ball from Levi Schwiebbe but accidentally fouled him from behind.
The referee immediately issued a yellow card!
Arghana glanced toward the stands.
The expressions of the Go Ahead Eagles supporters were varied—some were anxious, some were sad, some continued shouting as loud as they could, and others still hoped for a miracle!
Arghana took a deep breath.
He knew one thing:
As long as the match wasn't over, they still had a chance!
Maybe he couldn't do everything by himself, but he could keep fighting!
Even though the chances were slim, he couldn't give up!
By the time the 78th minute arrived, the pressure on Arghana reached its peak.
Volendam was defending with a low defensive line, stacking players behind to protect their 3-2 aggregate advantage.
Go Ahead Eagles needed at least one goal, and time was running out.
Around him, the noise from the opposing stands felt suffocating. Every passing second seemed to erode his team's hope.
Arghana felt trapped—his movements were limited, the ball was difficult to distribute, and every gap he saw seemed to close before he could take advantage of it.
But it was precisely at this moment that something familiar began to happen.
His heart raced faster, but his mind became clearer.
The once loud stands now seemed distant, as if they were far away.
Every opposing player blocking his path became clearer, their movements easier to read, as if there were a fraction of a second pause before they actually moved.
The field that once felt tight now seemed wide open.
The pressure that once suffocated him became an unstoppable force.
Arghana took a deep breath. This was it.
Suddenly, he no longer felt like someone trying to find an opening.
He was someone who knew exactly where the ball would come from, when the defender would react, and where he needed to be when that moment arrived.
The match was still unfolding as normal for everyone in the stadium, but for Arghana—everything seemed to slow down.