VVV-Venlo hosted Epen in a club friendly on the first of August. The visitors secured a 2:3 win in a contest that shifted direction several times. And here's the thing, the final score doesn't fully capture the ebb and flow of the ninety minutes.
And here's the thing, the early phase was frantic. I. Plastun opened the scoring for the hosts in the fourteenth minute, only for Y. Van Genechten to equalise twenty-four minutes later. The game settled into a rhythm where both sides looked dangerous. To be fair, the tempo suggested both managers were looking for something specific. The midfield battle intensified after the break.
A goal in the fifty-first minute kept the scoreboard balanced, though the intensity grew. Two yellow cards at the fifty-seventh minute highlighted the physical contest. By then, the tactical battle had moved beyond the ball.
Epen changed the dynamic late in the game. They took the lead in the eighty-seventh minute and added a fourth goal in stoppage time. And here's the thing, the sudden shift in fortune decided the outcome. The visitors showed composure when it mattered most.
The numbers tell a story of parity rather than dominance. VVV-Venlo enjoyed 51 percent possession and 73 attacks, while Epen recorded 64 attacks with 49 percent possession. It is a common sight to see more attacks yield fewer results.
The result contrasts with the hosts' recent form, which includes two defeats in their last two friendlies. Epen arrive with confidence, having won their previous five matches, including convincing scores against Eiwai and Wilz. The difference in momentum was clear. To be fair, the match ended with the away side taking the spoils.
The visitors leave with a clean sheet and a point to build on. It was a reminder that recent form isn't always a predictor of today's performance. The away side took the points in the closing stages.
