The first game between De Graafschap and FC Eindhoven ended in a draw. The game on the Vijverberg was decided by goals from Joey Sleegers and Danzell Gravenberch. Both players scored from a penalty kick in the game where no VAR was present due to a communication error at ESPN. The return match in Eindhoven will take place on Friday evening at 8 p.m. The winner of the diptych qualifies for the semi-finals of the play-offs, where it will meet ADO Den Haag or NAC Breda.
Remarkably enough, the duel was finished without the presence of the VAR. It was previously reported that the video system would be available, but due to a misunderstanding at ESPN, there were not enough cameras available and it was too short a day to arrange enough cameras. De Graafschap escaped early in the game when referee Alex Bos waved off an alleged foul by Ted van der Pavert. The defender appeared to lightly touch Charles-Andreas Brym as he appeared to have a clear passage towards the penalty area, but Bos saw no foul. After ten minutes it was hit for the visitors. Sleegers passed Brym, after which the ball hit the outstretched arm of Jeffry Fortes. Without help from the VAR, Bos decided to put the ball on the spot on the advice of the linesman. The protests on the part of the home team were in vain due to the lack of VAR. Sleegers, a trendsetter for the people of Eindhoven this season, shot flawlessly from eleven meters: 0-1.
The same Sleegers thought to double the lead halfway through the first act, but saw his shot go just wide. The first achievement of the home team was credited to Sam Hendriks, who just couldn’t get his foot behind the ball enough with a far free kick. Eindhoven controlled the match and saw the home team struggle with itself. The audience started to make themselves heard more and more and here and there a small flute concert was created. Just before half time, De Graafschap still appeared dangerously in front of the enemy goal, when a shot by Giovanni Korte was cracked by the defence. Jort van der Sanden thought he would score ten minutes after the break, but the Eindhoven attacker shot from close range in an offside position. De Graafschap tried, but still couldn’t make a fist. After an hour of play, it finally got its first big chance. Korte was put one-on-one with Nigel Bertrams with a nice cross ball from Mees Kaandorp, but shot straight at the goalkeeper.
The home team seemed shaken awake and got another great chance a minute later. De Graafschap decided to continue playing after an injury at Eindhoven and saw Hendriks aim the ball just wide of the goal in complete freedom. Halfway through the second half, De Graafschap reached the same level. Van der Sanden came in wildly and saw a ball hit his outstretched arm at close range. Referee Bos pointed to the dot. Gravenberch, who had come in a few minutes before at the expense of Hendriks, sent the keeper in the wrong direction from eleven meters: 1-1. A minute later, Schlemiel Van der Sanden had the perfect opportunity to put his team ahead again, but his header went wide from close by Hidde Jurjus’s goal. In the final phase it was the home team that kept looking for the attack and was looking in vain for the equalizer.