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Holland: ADO Den Haag net first win [Sat Aug 27th, 2005]
A last-minute goal from Jan Paul Saeijs earned ADO Den Haag their first win of the new Eredivisie season at the expense of visiting Heerenveen.
Saeijs struck with an injury-time header to inflict a first defeat of the campaign on Gertjan Verbeek's side, and give ADO a boost following their disappointing 2-1 loss at home to newcomers Heracles last weekend.
The hosts began brightly with both Roy Stroeve and Tomasz Rzasa forcing early saves from Heerenveen keeper Boy Waterman.
And after 17 minutes Geert Den Ouden came close to giving ADO the lead, heading a free kick from Youssouf El-Akchaoui agonisingly wide of the post.
Heerenveen hit back four minutes later with Georgios Samaras' close-range effort tipped over the bar by Dorus de Vries in the ADO goal, but further chances went astray for both sides with the score still goalless at the interval.
De Vries was called on to make another finger-tip save eight minutes into the second-half with Ugur Yildirim close to converting a cross from Peter Hansson.
And quick reactions were needed from Waterman when Eljero Elia twice threatened to give ADO the advantage in the 60th minute.
A 20-yard bullet from Heerenveen striker Arnold Bruggink also went just wide of the target, and at the other end of the pitch, more missed chances from Den Ouden and Michael Mols had the crowd convinced the match was heading for a stalemate.
However, luck eventually sided with ADO when a last-minute corner from Aleksandar Rankovic was headed into the net by Saeijs to snatch a welcome three points for the hosts.
PA Sport
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