Groningen Ster secured a 2-1 victory over Herriaansdam in the first preliminary round of the Dutch Cup on Tuesday evening. The hosts took all three points at home, ending a barren spell against this opposition. To be fair, the result tells only part of the story — the match itself had more to offer.
Van der Made broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, finding the net after a period of sustained pressure. His strike gave the home side an early advantage, and the momentum stayed with them. By then, Herriaansdam were already scrambling to find their footing.
Bleijlevens responded almost immediately, equalising in the 29th minute. The visitors showed they had not come to make up the numbers, and that response changed the tempo. And here's the thing — you could see the game opening up after that.
The decisive moment came in the 63rd minute, when a goal separated the two sides once more. The finish settled any remaining nerves, and Groningen Ster held their heads throughout the closing stages. The academy graduate marked his first start with a goal, though the assist came from elsewhere.
Statistics tell a different tale. The hosts registered 109 attacks against 94 for the visitors, while possession sat at 56 per cent for Groningen Ster. They also dominated the set-piece situation with nine corners to two. Two yellow cards for each side kept things measured.
The victory moves Groningen Ster forward in the cup, while Herriaansdam must regroup. It was not a spectacle, but it was a match decided by three or four moments. The rest was background noise.