Gerrie Eijlers was backing his team In qualification group 7 for Euro 2010 in Austria, the Netherlands celebrated a surprising home victory. With a 24:19 (14:19) result, the host team prevailed against Ukraine and may now dream of participating in European Championship finals. If the games against Lithuania and Cyprus would be won, and both Ukraine and the Netherlands would lose their matches against Spain, it would amount to the showdown in the return match on 17 June 2009, because then the direct comparison would decide. The best scorer of the Dutch who were especially convincing in defense, was no Bundesliga legionnaire but Bartek Konitz with seven goals.
"Spain is the favourite in our group, but against Ukraine and Lithuania, we must show our potential. The physical and mental state of the day will decide those matches. The upcoming comparison with Ukraine is already a key game for us," goalie Gerrie Eijlers put up the significance of the successful match in advance. And the Dutchmen should proof to be an equal adversary in that match.
After the start, the 1,400 spectators in Emmen were glad about the first 2-goals-lead at 7:5 with three goals of Bartek Kontitz. But then, a time penalty against Mark Bult was an advantage for Ukraine who scored three goals in succession at 8:10. But now the defense of the Dutch ameliorated, while Ukraine equally lost power offense. Tim Remer catched up the backlog and also due to three goals of Mark Schmetz the outsider took a 14:10 lead into the cabin.
At the beginning of the second half Ukraine came up to 18:16, but the Dutchmen had the match in their grip. Especially the strong and movable defence arranged for Ukrainian problems. The back players did not get in positions because they lacked the necessary pressure, but also goalkeeper Gerrie Eijlers was excellent. So, the host led the match by 22:17 and after a double blow to 24:17 the decision was finally taken. Ukraine, however, still managed an answer to 24:19, which, if the direct comparison between these two teams should still be relevant in the end, might be decisive.
The Dutch coach Harrie Weermann was overjoyed, the whole week we have sensed that the team wants to win this game and is able to. "Nineteen goals against by Ukraine - this is unprecedented," said Weermann on their defense and goalkeeper Eijlers: "It might also have been a seven goals lead," Weermann looks back a bit sad at the last minutes of the game. "But before the game we would have been overjoyed about a one-goal-win," relativized Weermann immediately. "The victory was our aim that we have achieved now. We habe a good feeling. In defence we were good, there we have won the game," said Fabian van Olphen, who still added: "Saturday will be the game against Cyprus and there will be no discussion that we have to win."
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