ALMERE, Netherlands – Playing their second game in less than 24 hours, the Generation adidas squad concluded their tour of the Netherlands with a 2-0 loss on Wednesday to Dutch second-flight side Almere City FC.
Almere started quickly, and for the first time in the three games, the GA team conceded first. Rihairo Meulens got open in the midfield and slotted a perfect through ball to Jonathan Roberson, who beat Zac MacMath to his left with a low driven shot.
The Gen adidas squad reacted quickly, however, and generated several good scoring opportunities.
In the ninth minute, Omar Salgado broke free on the left side but pulled his effort wide of the goal. Ten minutes later, it was Danny Mwanga who found himself in a good shooting position, but the Union striker also missed just wide of the far post.
The first half was played at a fast pace, with Almere taking advantage of quick counterattacks. In the 29th minute, Almere cleared the ball out of their end to find the very busy Meulens, who was able to control, turn and spring Thijs Sluijter for a one-on-one against MacMath. Almere's captain calmly curled the ball to the upper corner, giving the Dutch side a 2-0 lead.
Both teams traded opportunities in the last 15 minutes of the first half, but neither team managed to move the scoreboard.
GA coach Peter Vermes made wholesale changes at halftime, sparking the side to a better performance in the second 45. It became a monologue of continuous attack as the GA boys kept the Dutch side pinned in their half for the majority of the half.
The pressure and control manifested itself in a 16-1 shot count in favor of the American side, and second-half substitute 'keeper David Bingham didn't have to make a single save.
On the other end on the field, Almere netminder Kostas Paristeridis was quite busy, having to extend himself on several occasions to keep the ball out of the net. Dilly Duka saw shots in the 49th and 60th minutes denied with diving saves, while efforts from Corey Hertzog and Will Bruin in the 76th and 83rd suffered similar fates.
The final opportunity to get on the board fell to Bruin in the 90th minute, but his header from eight yards went just over the crossbar.
With their competitive games complete, the Generation adidas squad will return to the US on Thursday. They squad finished the tour with one win and two losses.
Lineups
Almere City FC -- 12-Kostas Paristeridis, 2-Dion Malone, 3-Gino Leandro Felixdaal, 5-Dennis Hollart, 7-Rihairo Meulens (20-Jordy Brouwer 64’), 10-Jerson Anes Ribeiro, 11-Thijs Sluijter (8-Mitchell Burgzorg 78’), 15-Mitchell Kappenberg, 16-Jonathan Robertson, 18-Leroy Rsodihardjo (21-Mitchel Bolck 64’) , 19-Fabian Serrarens
Generation adidas -- 2-Zac MacMath (1-David Bingham 46’), 8-Kofi Sarkodie, 6- Zarek Valentin, 23-Conor Shanosky, 14-Michael Tetteh (12-Kevin Alston 46’), 22-Amobi Okugo, 20-Danny Mwanga, 9-Jack McInerney (10-Corey Hertzog 46’), 5-Luis Gil (15-Matt Kassel 46’), 17-Omar Salgado (11-Dilly Duka 46’), 18-Will Bruin
Shots: ACFC - 6 GA – 27
Fouls: ACFC - 12 GA – 19
Corners: ACFC - 1 GA – 6
Offside: ACFC - 2 GA – 2
Cautions: ACFC - 1 (2-Malone 81’) GA – 1 (17-Salgado 36’)
Ejections: ACFC - 0 GA – 0
Location: Mitsubishi Forklift Stadion, Almere
Time: 3 pm Local
Weather: Clear cool, 43 degrees
Field: Artificial surface
