Degredation days
Sparta Rotterdam 0 - 1 ADO Den Haag
23rd April 2017
Unlike at NEC Nijmegen this weekend, there were no post-match protests, no chanting, no trainer standing on a stepladders shouting back at fans demanding his head (Peter Hyballa was sacked 36 hours later). Just one irate soul in the club reception intent on making his point to the club's hierarchy,but only able to do so to the security guard blocking his path.
Sparta, it appears, are resigned to a fate which at best looks like involvement in the relegation play-offs. No one seems at all surprised at this and in his post match interview Alex Pastoor simply and glumly outlined their limited survival options and said his team were still trying.
Perhaps an older supporter base more used to the Eerste Divisie than the top flight in recent years has got something to do with it. Or perhaps the quality of Sparta's football at the moment means hoping for anything more is simply foolish.
It's never easy watching a club go meekly into a relegation (referred to as degredation in the Netherlands) battle. The play-offs are a lottery and if Sparta are unfortunately to come up against Cambuur who have hit form at just the right time in the final round they will be playing a better team for an Eredivisie place.
ADO were never in a moment's danger of losing this and were a class above Sparta. Well organised (actually they remind of Feyenoord) and with good movement and lots of attacking options, they took a lead they were never likely to relinquish and should have added to with a wonder goal from El Khayati after 10 minutes. He hit the ball from fully 30 yards having taken it on himself and it swerved away from Korsmit leaving the Sparta keeper grasping at thin air.
Sparta offered nothing of note in the first half. Their build up play was solid but the final ball, usually a cross after working their way wide, was woefully lacking in quality. ADO's big centre backs Kanon and Meissner just nodded it away.
Mart Dijkstra did his level best and Martin Pusic was always on the look out in the box, but they can't do it alone. They looked better in the second half for the introduction of Aussie Craig Goodwin, big Mathius Pogba up front and winger Ilias Alhalft late on but still didn't create nearly enough, a steady string of corners their only reward.
ADO's supporters celebrated their remarkable turnaround with gusto at the end and despite Fons Groenendijk's insistence on crediting his wider team for their upturn, the credit is his and the fans knew as much. They are now safe with two games to go and even eyeing an (unlikely) Europa League play-off spot. The Haageneers look a fair bet for a decent season next year if Fons sticks around.
Two difficult games against Twente and Go Ahead Eagles (who will be relegated themselves before the final game) remain for Sparta. Then, in all probability, the play offs. If they do go down, the Eredivisie will be losing one of its more charismatic tenants and a nice place to visit.
