At 3:00 AM China time on November 16, in the 15th round of the Dutch Second Division, Telstar will host VVV-Venlo at the Tata Steel Stadium.
In the 14th round of the Dutch Second Division on November 9, Telstar lost 0-1 to Roda JC away. The team did not lack scoring opportunities during the match, but the main striker, Edahori, wearing number 10, managed only one shot on target out of five attempts. The right-side defensive efforts by El Kaoutari and Nosling failed to stop Seedorf Jr.’s cut-in and goal. Ultimately, Telstar ended their impressive run of eight unbeaten matches across all competitions with a regrettable loss away from home. On November 1, in the first round of the KNVB Cup, Telstar easily defeated strong Dutch Second Division side Helmond 3-0 at home. The team is set to face Dutch football giant Ajax away at the end of the year, which still poses some pressure despite their multiple fronts.
In the first phase of this season’s Dutch Second Division, Telstar finished 8th with 3 wins, 4 draws, and 2 losses, trailing the top-ranked Den Bosch by 5 points, a gap that is not insurmountable. In the new second phase, Telstar currently stands 12th with 1 win, 3 draws, and 1 loss, 7 points behind the top-ranked FC Volendam, making it quite challenging to catch up. On the overall league table, Telstar ranks 11th with 4 wins, 7 draws, and 3 losses. There is still a chance for them to qualify for the promotion playoffs based on total points. Notably, after losing 0-3 to FC Eindhoven in their home opener, Telstar has maintained steady performance at the Tata Steel Stadium, remaining undefeated in their last five home games.
Telstar has not reported any player absences for this match. However, during the brief midweek break, the team focused on endurance training to enhance physical fitness and practiced passing accuracy and teamwork to better counter VVV-Venlo’s defensive counterattack strategy.
VVV-Venlo’s performance this season has been unsatisfactory. After narrowly escaping a five-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory over Ajax II on November 2, they returned home and suffered an unexpected 0-1 defeat to Alkmaar II, putting them in a very precarious position. In the match against Alkmaar II, despite the home advantage, VVV-Venlo failed to generate the expected offensive intensity. After the game, VVV-Venlo’s head coach John Lamers stated in a press conference, “I think we didn’t perform well enough, especially in ball control. We seemed content with just defending, but if we could do something constructive with the ball while defending, it might be better.”
In the first phase of the Dutch Second Division, VVV-Venlo ranked 18th with 2 wins, 2 draws, and 5 losses, far from the leading group. In the second phase, VVV-Venlo currently stands 4th from the bottom with 1 win and 4 losses, only slightly better than Ajax II, financially struggling Vitesse, and FC Eindhoven, who have lost all five of their matches. On the overall league table, VVV-Venlo ranks 3rd from the bottom with 3 wins, 2 draws, and 9 losses, showing no signs of improvement.
In terms of squad, VVV-Venlo’s key midfielder Brem will be absent due to his call-up to the Netherlands youth national team, dealing a significant blow to the midfield. Additionally, two key defenders, Ketting and Jansen, are also out due to injuries. However, there is good news as defensive midfielder Simon Jansen will return from suspension in this round, providing some relief. On Wednesday, VVV-Venlo officially announced the appointment of Jacobs as the new technical director to address the significant challenges faced this season.
In the past 20 encounters between the two teams, VVV-Venlo holds an advantage with 10 wins, 4 draws, and 6 losses. In this round, Telstar, fresh off a recent defeat, aims to quickly get back on track using their home advantage. Can the struggling VVV-Venlo, affected by personnel shortages, secure a result away from home?
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