Telstar – Maastricht
Netherlands – Eerste divisie, day 10.
Saturday 14/10/23, h20:00
Despite their latest defeat at Emmen’s (2-0 in one of the toughest fields of Eerste divisie), Telstar have been slowly developing some team identity. Today they are last in the standings, but all their 4 points came from the last three games. Van den Heerik and Eddahchouri (5 goals combined) are dragging their pals offensively: now it is time to lock the goal in defense (10 conceded in the last 5) and fight for their second home win in a row. Telstar are aware that their roster is among the technically poorest of the league and that the 9th place of last year is out of the reach; still, they have concrete possibilities to perform better than what this early phase of the season has shown. Also because Mike Snoei is an experienced head coach.
A crazy extra-time, with two goals scored in the very last seconds of the game, and Maastricht accomplished an astonishing 3-2 comeback at Jong Psv’s: a much-needed result, that interrupts a negative streak of 5 defeats in a row. Indeed, the Red-and-white had started the season with a bang – a huge win in Venlo, than again versus Jong Ajax – which was far beyond expectations. Accorded to Transfermarkt, the team has the second-lowest market value of Eerste divisie (3,63 millions) and the playoffs centered last year seem now a mirage. Maastricht’s strongest point, without a doubt, is the striker Koen Kostons: already 5 goals and 3 assists so far. But the defense remains a puzzle, with 13 conceded in the last six. Their most recent three-pointer surely give them morale, but cannot deceive on the overall fragile condition of coach Verberne’s boys.
Recently, Telstar-Maastricht has been a match that fully respected the home factor: in 5 times out of the last 5, the visitors ended up being defeated. Today both teams are vulnerable, and it is likely that they will struggle on the bottom of Eerste divisie for the rest of the season. Still, Telstar have lately demonstrated some organizational consistency that in a one-off game can be decisive, especially if they manage to keep low the score. The stakes are prudently on them.