Going into what was set to be a vital game for ADO Den Haag in pushing for their automatic promotion hopes, the home side sat atop the Eerste Divisie table with 19 points in 7 games. Taking wins in 6 of them. The league leaders faced Noord-Brabant opponents TOP Oss who were struggling mid table with just 10 points, just coming off the back of a disappointing 2-1 home loss to promotion hopefuls Roda JC. While ADO were still unbeaten in the league and had won the last 5 games in a row, and certainly looking to add to that with this Monday night fixture against TOP Oss.
The tone was set immediately by the home side as Curacao national and ADO winger Nigel Thomas picked up the ball well into the TOP Oss half and with a staggering turn of pace cut towards the by-line and played in a hopeful cross into the box, searching for a yellow and green shirt. The ball fortuitously deflected down into the feet of Den Haag marksman Jesse Bal who made no mistake from 15 yards out and placed the ball past the despairing Havekotte in goal. With just 6 minutes played the home side were 1-0 up and already had their sights on yet another league win.
The chances soon flooded after that, and just 8 minutes later another chance fell to ADO. This time to attacking midfielder Luka Reischl who didn’t manage to capitalise on a good cross in from Illiajah de Ruijter as TOP Oss number 1 Mike Havekotte got down well to his left hand side and parried the ball away. Unluckily the parry landed at the feet of goalscorer Nigel Thomas who too managed a shot on target but another parry by Havekotte, this time out of play, managed to subdue the ADO attack and provide restbite for the struggling away side.
On 25 minutes, however, the away side finally cracked again as a good corner ball found its way to the back post where it was headed down by defensive midfielder Juho Kilo toward centre back Diogo Tomas who flicked towards the goal and into the back of the net. Doubling the advantage for the home side, and securing that much needed 2 goal cushion. A cushion that was soon expanded to 3 just 10 minutes later as a good ball into the penalty area from the right hand side by Nigel Thomas found the head of Luka Reischl who made no mistake this time and directed the ball past Havekotte who was rooted to the spot. Giving the home side a 3 goal advantage in just 35 minutes.
The away side did manage a goal before the end of the first half, however, as tricky TOP Oss winger Joshua ZImmerman gave himself a yard with a good step over on the right hand side and played in a great cross to TOP number 9 Tijmen Wildeboer who scored what will likely go down as one of the goals of the month and perhaps the season as he superbly flicked the ball behind his left foot first time off the incoming cross and into the far corner, leaving Nikiema no chance. The score was now 3-1 to ADO with 44 minutes played.
The home side did manage to regain their 3 goal lead even before the break as with just 1 minute into added time a long range effort from Jari Vlak somehow beat Havekotte thanks to some poor goalkeeping as the ball went underneath the keeper’s dive to his left hand side. The score was 4-1 to ADO going into the halftime break.
In the second half a flood of chances were created by the home side, forcing some great saves and great defending from TOP Oss to prevent another ADO goal. This was until the 76th minute as an incoming free kick was headed down by Matteo Waem to Jari Vlak at the far post who easily volleyed it home to make it 5-1 from the home side and secure all 3 points as the final whistle confirmed the score.
ADO were now still top of the table and had extended their lead to 2 points ahead of second place Cambuur and still with a game in hand. Their eyes will now be turned to their next game which will undoubtedly be crucial in maintaining this good run of form as ADO are set to face lower mid-table Jong AZ away from home on Friday the 3rd of October.
MATCH FACTS:
ADO 5 – 1 TOP Oss
ADO: Bal (7), Tomas (26), Reischl (36), Vlak (45+2, 77)
TOP OSS: Wildeboer (45)
MOTM: Jari Vlak
Author: Seth Baker