Vitesse booked a victory in the Conference League on Thursday evening. In Arnhem, the team of trainer Thomas Letsch was 3-1 too strong for NS Mura. What this means for a possible follow-up of Vitesse in Europe is still unclear. With ten points, the team from Arnhem occupies second position in Group G behind Stade Rennes (eleven points) with ten points. Tottenham Hotspur, seven points, can still take second place if the French win. Whether and when the postponed game at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium will be played is as yet unknown.
Vitesse fired energetically from the starting blocks in GelreDome. With exactly 2:52 minutes on the clock, Thomas Buitink scored the opening goal. Loïs Openda tested goalkeeper Marko Zalokar from approximately eleven meters, who tapped the ball at Buitink’s feet. It was a breeze for the latter to finish from the rebound: 1-0. It was the fastest ever goal in the early history of the Conference League. Afterwards, Vitesse continued to look for more goals. Nevertheless, Letsch’s team had to be sharp in the twentieth minute, when Mura got a chance twice. However, Tomi Horvat encountered goalkeeper Jeroen Houwen, while Nardin Mulahusejnovic shot just past.
A very good start from Vitesse ???? ?? ESPN#? #VITMUR pic.twitter.com/KyAAu0FgMq
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) Dec 9, 2021
Then it was Vitesse’s turn again. Openda’s 2-0 was preceded by three missed opportunities. First, Buitink saw a shot bounce off and disappear right off the post; after that, Danilho Doekhi and Riechedly Bazoer also lacked fortune in the final round. After a far kick from Houwen and a misunderstanding in the Slovenian defence, the road towards the enemy goal was paved for Openda. Face to face with Zalokar, the striker made no mistake: 2-0. The 3-0 was also found before the halftime signal. Openda captured the ball in Mura’s half and served Daan Huisman, who convincingly scored: 3-0.
Vitesse continues! ?? 35′ Openda 40′ Huisman ?? ESPN #?? #VITMUR pic.twitter.com/T4vdPm39O4
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) Dec 9, 2021
In the second half Vitesse had several opportunities to further expand the score. Maximilian Wittek and Huisman, among others, tried their luck, but both were stopped by the alert Zolakar. After an hour of play, the home team got away well. Substitute Amadej Marosa thought he would make it 3-1; however, his goal was disallowed for offside. The painful goal came in the 82nd minute. Jacob Rasmussen suffered a clumsy loss of ball just before his own sixteen, as a result of which Marosa went straight for Houwen. The striker remained calm and pushed in the 3-1. In the final phase, Houwen was of great value by saving a bet by Nik Lorbek with a cat-like reflex.
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