So close and yet so far…
An extra-time penalty, slotted home by Sebastian Haller, fired 10-man FC Utrecht to a 1-2 comeback victory over PEC Zwolle on Friday 23 October 2015 in Zwolle.
The Bluefingers, entertaining FC Utrecht in front of 12.300 faithful, were on top in the first 30 minutes with a dazzling display of pressure cooker football.
Pressure cooker football occurs when both the opponent team and the home croud have no time to recuperate and breath
Our beloved PEC Zwolle took the lead in the 14th minute, capitalising on a dreadful error in the FC Utrecht defence, at the time conjuring up visions of Emmenthaler cheese.
Off-target marksman Lars Veldwijk's shot was blocked into the path of Wouter Marinus, who put his effort into the bottom corner.
However, the visitors fought back to equalise as they hit Zwolle on the break and Haller found the bottom corner with a low drive from inside the penalty area.
PEC Zwolle were denied the lead by a fine save from Robin Ruiter after Veldwijk latched on to a cross from Bart van Hintum, but the keeper made the diving stop.
The away team went close just before the break when Timo Letschert rose highest in the box to latch on to a corner from the right, but he headed his effort just past the post. Zwolle threatened when Sheraldo Becker raided down the flank and lifted a cross into the box for the head of Veldwijk, but his effort was straight at Ruiter.
PEC had one final chance to win the game when they were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes when Marc van der Maarel brought down Veldwijk in the box, which resulted in the defender being dismissed. However, Stefan Nijland lost his composure as he sent the spot kick over the bar.
The midfielder was to pay for his miss as there was time for one more twist in the tale. The visitors were awarded a spot kick in the second minute of stoppage time and Haller took the penalty and fired his effort past Kevin Begois to earn the away teamthree points.
Vitesse won their first away victory at Zwolle last week, with FC Utrecht emulating the same feat.
Hello PECZwolle, what is the
financial situation at the club?
@Global Game:
Based on the total of points a club receives from graded financial reports, they are placed into Categories I, II or III. Category III contains the healthiest sides, Category I contains the clubs that have a sub-par score.
Clubs like PEC Zwolle currently fall under Category I and are put under a strict regime; meaning they have to provide the KNVB with financial status reports more often and have to set up and follow through a plan of action to improve their financial position.
This summer the transfers of Jody Lukoki (Ludogorets,Bulgaria), Jesper Drost (FC Groningen, The Netherlands) en Ben Rienstra (AZ,The Netherlands ) amassed € 4,2 mio. This has not yet been accounted for during the latest ‘benchmark’.
PEC Zwolle are highly likely to be lifted into the second and relatively safe second category once these figures have been integrated in the next graded financial reports.
On top of that, PEC Zwolle’s home shall be baptised the ‘MAC3Park’ at the start of the 2016/17 campaign. It’s part of a sponsor deal with a regional real estate developer.
What are the chances of them trying to sell Ryan in the January window?
@Global Game:
Ryan Thomas’ contract terminates on 30 June 2018. I have never read any solid or reliable reference to a premature lifting. Should PEC Zwolle let him go in the winter, Ryan’s price tag shall be determined and discriminated by a domestic or international move. Thomas is a leightweight who blends in perfectly well in Ron Jans’ alchemical mixture.
From the trivial department:
PEC Zwolle’s refurbished players tunnel:
Next week’s fixtures: