ADO Den Haag has won against FC Eindhoven in its own Cars Jeans Stadium. The home team took a double lead in the first half through goals from Dhoraso Klas and Thomas Verheydt. Joey Sleegers brought FC Eindhoven closer from the penalty spot, but the Eindhoven team was unable to force an equalizer: 2-1. The goal does offer FC Eindhoven prospects for the return of the semi-finals of the Kitchen Champion Play-Offs, which is scheduled for Saturday. The winner of the diptych will compete against Excelsior or Eredivisionist Heracles Almelo, who will play in the other semi-final. The first game between those two teams will kick off on Wednesday at 6:45 PM.
After five minutes, FC Eindhoven seemed to be able to take the lead in The Hague, when Charles-Andreas Brym, after an excellent pass from Brian de Keersmaecker, was only able to pass goalkeeper Alessandro Damen. However, the year-old goalkeeper of ADO had an excellent save, after which he also managed to stop a header from Jort van de Sande from the following corner. ADO’s answer came after fifteen minutes of play. In a period in which FC Eindhoven was temporarily left with ten men due to an injury of Matthias Verreth, Klas started the combination with Verheydt, after which he shot the ball himself out of reach of Nigel Bertrams in the left corner: 1-0.
Sem Steijn tested Bertrams a few minutes later with an attempt from distance, but the Bestenaar parried the attempt. Verheydt did manage to increase the lead for ADO. A cross from Boy Kemper reached the bony striker, who scored a beautiful goal with a rock-hard header from the inside of the post: 2-0. On the stroke of half-time, Sleegers had a chance to score the connecting goal on a pass from substitute Jens van Son, but he shot straight at Damen. Ten minutes after the break, Mawouna Amevor prevented Gregor Breinburg from shooting in from the edge of the penalty area. The same Amevor sent Brym to Damen moments later; however, the Canadian ran into the goalkeeper.
After 72 minutes FC Eindhoven had an imposed chance to make the connecting goal. Cold substitute Justin Ogenia was tapped in the penalty area by Herve Matthys, after which referee Jochem Kamphuis pointed to the spot. Sleegers shot the penalty kick decisively into the left corner, bringing his team back into the game: 2-1. Sleegers almost equalized the equalizer at the start of the quarter of an hour on a pass from Amevor, but Jamal Amofa, who followed along, was able to clear the ball from the goal line. In that well-known fifteen minutes in the Hofstad, ADO seemed to want to score another goal, while FC Eindhoven seemed to be at peace with the score. The latter club had its way, as no more goals were scored in the remainder of the game.