Ends as a 1-2 defeat for NAC and a round of 16 exit from the cup.
Just a couple of useless trainspotting facts to go with, why not: two of the nine named substitutes for NAC are Curacao internationals, both of whom started the match against the All Whites in 2021 when Garbett made his senior debut. Jarchinio Antonia started on the wing that day and was a 66th minute sub today, while Cuco Martina started at centre-back but was unused today.
Both Heerenveen goals were scored by 22-year-old Bologna loanee Sydney van Hooijdonk, born in Breda and who made his senior debut at NAC, scoring 23 goals in 70 games. He is also the son of 46-cap Dutch international Pierre van Hooijdonk, who infamously went on strike and refused to play for Nottingham Forest for a few months in their last Premier League season before the current - 98/99. During his strike, Pierre kept fit by training at NAC, having himself scored 81 goals in 115 while there. The last name even means 'from Hooidonk' after a town down the road from Breda, in the same state of Noord-Brabant.
Apparently Garbett has a niggle which he is getting over. Breda have a game 10th (Saturday morning our time), and then the 20th. Hopefully he’ll be ready for some minutes Sat morning, or worse case match on the 20th.
So makes his Breda debut, but not a great game for his club.
One of 3 subs brought on at HT (2-1) as Breda lose 4-1 at last placed Utrecht II. Hard to see Breda pushing for a promotion playoff spot after a result like that.
Anyway hopefully Garbett made an impression, and can crack the starting lineup soon.
A pretty chastening introduction to Dutch football for Garbett. Though to be fair, he played more senior, competitive club minutes today than in the previous 633 days combined. Take the small victories etc.
It must be said, if there's one thing you'd bet your house on, it'd be New Zealanders wearing black-and-yellow getting comprehensively beaten in a match overseen by Darije Kalezic. It's just his forte. As is being last I suppose.
It's Carneval time in Breda - the Noord Brabant region and neighbouring German cities like Düsseldorf and Köln as well really - so the away fans in the largely empty Utrecht ground were dressed up, so hopefully that result doesn't put too much of a dampener on the Rose Monday celebrations.
Match highlights. About 45 seconds in is the Garbett (no 26) assist. A cross from the right back across the box, met on the volley. Seems there is a few Garbett lookalikes in the Breda team. Just good to see him playing.
Breda are 9th now, 6 pts off the promotion playoff spots. Effectively 8th, as AZ II (7th) can't be promoted. Hopefully Breda can make a late season charge. 12 games left.
Breda win this and they will be 5 pts off the promotion playoff spots, giving themselves a sniff. Especially with 2 winnable home games to follow - before a tough trip away to Thomas's Zwolle after that.
Also a handy opportunity for 20 yr old Garbett to catch the eye of the scouts at big clubs like Ajax, PSV, AZ etc by playing against their Jong sides in the Dutch 2nd tier. Impressed in his first Breda start last week apparently, so keeps that up, and he could be in the Eredivisie next season regardless of whether Breda get promoted or not.
Breda (7th) host Jong Ajax (17th). Breda win this and they will climb to 5th or 6th, just below the playoff spots (3rd & 4th). Admittedly some teams around them with a game in hand.
They have a tough game on the weekend travelling to Thomas's Zwolle. So a win over Ajax II is crucial re their playoff hopes.
Breda have won their last 3 games, coincidentally Garbett has started all 3.
Annihilation on the cards (5-1 now, 60th min) but Garbett is yet again a standout. Him and Icelandic striker Elias Omarsson are the only ones coming out of this with glory according to NAC fans - Garbett again playing a big part in NAC's only goal
Finished a 2-6 hiding! A big blow to Breda's promotion chances, at home against a team lower than them on the table. I guess with the Jong sides it can be somewhat a bit, hit & miss depending on who is released from the first team squad for games.
Garbett off at 63 mins (1-5). Nice to see him continuing his record of assists.
If Breda don't get promoted hopefully a Eredivisie club notice him. Helps that he's still young himself at 20. Ajax II not a bad side to shine against, re the scouts watching.
Next the Kiwi matchup against Thomas's impressive Zwolle this weekend. Maybe Ryan can persuade Zwolle (promotion almost certain) to sign a fellow Kiwi midfielder for next season.
Good to see him come straight into the fold at NAC Breda and look so comfortable. Their fans seem to rate him as a brilliant pickup given a relatively up/down sort of season for the club thus far.
Agree completely with the sentiment from others though, he just needs to be playing.
Feels like he's come out of nowhere to be one of our highest potential players. Non-playing reserve for an age group side to this in a couple of years is impressive and with runs like that he's only going to keep getting noticed.
Looking forward to seeing this kind of heads up, positive play against China.
Great to see a young Kiwi lad get his head up and make those types of runs and looking positive, excellent vision to find the winger on that left hand flank too.
Top away result for Breda who close the gap to VVV (4th, last playoff spot) to 6 pts. Breda are going to have to keep winning, and then still need some luck to make the promotion playoffs.
Top away result for Breda who close the gap to VVV (4th, last playoff spot) to 6 pts. Breda are going to have to keep winning, and then still need some luck to make the promotion playoffs.
Assuming I haven't misunderstood it, NAC can have their spot confirmed in the playoffs on Tuesday morning. Due to the 'period' system used in the division, where the league is split into four (two of 9 nine games, two of 10), qualification can be confirmed as early as ten games into the season.
Heracles won the first period, Thomas' PEC won the second and NAC could 'win' the third which was supposed to finish on the 10th of March. They are second on goal difference behind PEC - but the ticket goes to the highest team yet to have won one - so that is currently NAC (table here).
Due to a postponement, one match remains in that period - Almere City against Jong Utrecht which is being played on Tuesday morning. Almere sit two points below NAC in the period, so a win against Jong Utrecht (second to last in the period, only above Jong Ajax) will put them outright first. So there will be a few crossed fingers in Breda, as it'll be tight to win the fourth period given they lost the first two matches and getting the last league spot could be tough with teams around them.
Yes seems you are correct Carlind. Weird system indeed. Explained about halfway down this Wiki page, with league table at end of each Period explained. And yes Period 4 is 2 games in, but Period 3 not yet completed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%E2%80%9323_Eerste_Divisie
I had been going off Soccerway which showed only teams 3rd & 4th in the playoffs. But will actually be 6 teams in the playoffs, just not neccessarily teams placed 3rd-8th. Added complication is I don't think the Jong teams can participate in the playoffs. But Breda should remain in the mix until season end, and have been in mostly improved form (6-2 spanking at home from Ajax II aside) since Garbett arrived.
But in short term they will yes be cheering on Darije Kalezić's Utrecht Jong on Tuesday.
Top away result for Breda who close the gap to VVV (4th, last playoff spot) to 6 pts. Breda are going to have to keep winning, and then still need some luck to make the promotion playoffs.
Assuming I haven't misunderstood it, NAC can have their spot confirmed in the playoffs on Tuesday morning. Due to the 'period' system used in the division, where the league is split into four (two of 9 nine games, two of 10), qualification can be confirmed as early as ten games into the season.
Heracles won the first period, Thomas' PEC won the second and NAC could 'win' the third which was supposed to finish on the 10th of March. They are second on goal difference behind PEC - but the ticket goes to the highest team yet to have won one - so that is currently NAC (table here).
Due to a postponement, one match remains in that period - Almere City against Jong Utrecht which is being played on Tuesday morning. Almere sit two points below NAC in the period, so a win against Jong Utrecht (second to last in the period, only above Jong Ajax) will put them outright first. So there will be a few crossed fingers in Breda, as it'll be tight to win the fourth period given they lost the first two matches and getting the last league spot could be tough with teams around them.
Almere with a late (87th min) goal for a 1-0 win over Utrecht II. So Almere lock in a playoff spot. Breda (8th) can still grab a playoff, by finishing amongst the top 8 sides on the table
18 yr old Josh Rawlins (ex Perth Glory) with 20 mins for Utrecht Jong.