League Play-Off

Waterkant
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Wilfried Alards made the kick off which started today's match. Rogier Zijlstra made a fantastic save in the 4th minute, when Fabian de Vries sent off a good shot on target. Stefans Ruiters's Tim van Zwieten got a good chance for a goal in the 6th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 8 minutes into the match, Stefans Ruiters's goal looked a bit too open when Wilfried Alards came free, but Rogier Zijlstra reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Fabian de Vries got free with Rogier Zijlstra in the 12th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Rogier Zijlstra showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Wilfried Alards, who was totally free with the ball in the 14th minute. In the 15th minute, Wilfried Alards hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Tonny Veldhuis sent away a hard shot on goal in the 17th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Wilfried Alards had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The audience was convinced that Tim van Zwieten's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Iwan Merenga was relentless in the 25th minute of the game. The supporters of Stefans Ruiters booed when FC Rotterdam was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 26 match minutes in a wonderful position. Taco Roeles didn't get a good kick on the ball. Rogier Zijlstra was a little too slow when Taco Roeles got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 31st minute. The score was now 1-0. If Wilfried Alards had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 35th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The crowd rose to their feet as FC Rotterdam's Wilfried Alards slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Rogier Zijlstra. That made the score 2-0 after 39 minutes of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Oscar Kiewiet during the 44th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The supporters of FC Rotterdam booed when Stefans Ruiters was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 44 match minutes in a wonderful position. Oscar Kiewiet didn't get a good kick on the ball. Fabian de Vries who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 46thth minute tested the skills of Rogier Zijlstra when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Wilfried Alards fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 48th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rogier Zijlstra having to interfere.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Tonny Veldhuis to make the kick off. FC Rotterdam's Wilfried Alards pulled a muscle in his back after 56 minutes and couldn't finish the game. After 56 minutes, Rein Saarloos mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Stefans Ruiters and the FC Rotterdam players grew even worse after the yellow card. Rein Saarloos kicked well hit freekick during the 57th minute of the match. When Maarten Lucius came up free with the goalie in the 58th minute, the FC Rotterdam fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Maarten Lucius couldn't finish the play. After 62 played minutes FC Rotterdam got a freekick which was hit by Herbert Uebels. In the 64thth minute of the game Tonny Veldhuis who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but FC Rotterdam's Iwan Merenga was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Fabian de Vries got in the 67th a clear chance and fired away a hard shot against goal, but Rogier Zijlstra handled the situation perfectly and made a save by the crossbar. Tonny Veldhuis struck a weak shot in the 71st minute. Iwan Merenga didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Stefans Ruiters. After a rather tough play, Stefans Ruiters's Oscar Kiewiet got a free kick in the 72nd minute. Fabiën Snijders hit a great freekick 74 minutes into the match. Tim van Zwieten was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 75th minute. Stefans Ruiters's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. Fabian de Vries sent away a hard shot on goal in the 79th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 85 minutes into the match, Stefans Ruiters's goal looked a bit too open when Fabian de Vries came free, but Rogier Zijlstra reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 86th minute, Jurgen de Ridder got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Fabian de Vries sent away a hard shot on goal in the 88th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Rogier Zijlstra made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Fabian de Vries in the 92nd minute of play. Taco Roeles sent away a hard shot on goal in the 95th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Fabian de Vries in the 97th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Rogier Zijlstra saved Stefans Ruiters from getting behind. Stefans Ruiters's Rogier Zijlstra played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Pim Wel in the 98th minute of play.