League Play-Off

Sarphatipark
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Jiang Guang Cheng started the match with the kick off. Kurt Kuypers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Chris Riemers in the 3rd minute of play. Klaas Oosting received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 8th minute. Kurt Kuypers tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Chris Riemers sent away a hard shot on goal in the 13th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a defensive mix-up in De Pijp's zone, Chris Riemers stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Kurt Kuypers came out of the goal and Chris Riemers tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Kurt Kuypers showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Chris Riemers, who was totally free with the ball in the 17th minute. Kurt Kuypers showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Klaas Oosting, who was totally free with the ball in the 19th minute. After a rather tough play, De Pijp's Wessel Alberda got a free kick in the 20th minute. John Bakker's late challenge caught a De Pijp's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. John Bakker helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, FC Real Zaandam's John Bakker got a free kick in the 28th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Klaas Oosting in the 34th minute of play forced De Pijp's goalkeeper Kurt Kuypers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 34 played minutes De Pijp got a freekick which was hit by Wessel Alberda. Korneliusz Rakowski's late challenge caught a FC Real Zaandam's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Korneliusz Rakowski helped the player get up and apologised. In the 37th minute, one of De Pijp:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for De Pijp. De Pijp:s Kurt Kuypers showed great skill when he stopped Arno Seedorf:s penalty. 39 minutes into the match, De Pijp's goal looked a bit too open when Klaas Oosting came free, but Kurt Kuypers reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A collision led to De Pijp getting a freekick after 40 minutes play. Wessel Alberda hit a great ball. 41 minutes into the match, Chris Riemers had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Kurt Kuypers. De Pijp's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Chris Riemers was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The wind increased when Klaas Oosting made the kick off in the second half. Jiang Guang Cheng fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 55th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Stephan Wagenaar having to interfere. Klaas Oosting received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 62nd minute. Kurt Kuypers tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Chris Riemers could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 64th minute of the match, but Kurt Kuypers made a huge save. Korneliusz Rakowski was shown his second yellow card after 69 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. Arno Seedorf shot the penalty kick right outside the post. Chris Riemers fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 79th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Kurt Kuypers having to interfere. Kurt Kuypers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Klaas Oosting in the 84th minute of the match. 87 minutes into the match, FC Real Zaandam's Klaas Oosting sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Kurt Kuypers narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Chris Riemers struck a weak shot in the 99th minute. Kurt Kuypers didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for FC Real Zaandam. The FC Real Zaandam supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing FC Real Zaandam would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.