The victory over ADO the Hague last Wednesday, the first victory in two months time, was an appetizer for more.  NAC Breda was the next victim in of the team which found new self-confidence. Result: 2-3.

Even though Heerenveen was on the winning side last Wednesday, manager Foppe de Haan had his doubts about this match at the Mycom stadium. He saw Richard Knopper, Antonio Correia and Johan Hansma forced to stay in bed due to the effects of flu, and Arek Radomski and Saïd Bakatti were also not in shape to play.

The shifts in the team worked out very good. Heerenveen took the initiative in the early stages of the match and after a mad 15 minutes Heerenveen scored three times. Though, one of the goals was an own goal… Gerald Sibon again proved to be of immense value for the team by scoring twice with a header. NAC scored in between but it had a Heerenveen defender to thank for it. Ronnie Venema  had an unlucky touch with the ball and it rolled in agonizing past goalie Vonk. 

This promising start did not get a continuation. Heerenveen laid back and NAC was powerless and couldn’t worry Vonk. Best chances were still for the guests and at the end of the second half they even extended the lead. In the dying seconds of the first half Heerenveen was awarded a free kick. Midfielder Paul de Lange was there to convert the Erik Edman free kick. He scored from close range.

The second half was more or less a mirror of the first. Erik Edman and Stefan Selakovic could have extended the lead but failed eye to eye with NAC keeper Arno van Zwam. NAC scored a second goal in the last minute of play but that was all the got. Heerenveen took the three points home to Friesland. (8-12-2003)

Pictures NAC-SC Heerenveen