Matchday

**19-08-2012**

The following day broke clear and bright, the kind of morning that would make for an exciting football game.

Fans wearing red and white jerseys, clutching scarves, and singing songs that filled the air with a charged excitement were already bringing the AFAS Stadion to life by lunchtime.

From the minute he woke up, Benjamin's anxiety began to grow in anticipation of what this day would bring.

Fans gathered along the stadium entrance, cheering as each player got off the team bus, which was escorted by police when it arrived at the stadium.

Benjamin kept his head down, feeling a bit unused to the atmosphere despite the fact that he could feel their eyes on him, some interested, some uninterested.

After entering, they followed the standard procedure, getting last-minute instructions, preparing their equipment, and settling into the locker rooms. Sitting there felt surreal for Benjamin. Beneath his jersey, he could feel his heart beating, his pulse synchronized with the hum of the crowd.

The minutes passed quickly, and the pre-game warm-up was about to begin. The scream of fans now filling every part of the stadium welcomed them as they came out onto the field.

On the opposite side, the Heracles Almelo team started warming up, serving as a reminder that this was game day and that every second counted.

As he jogged with the other subs, Benjamin stretched his muscles, felt the ground under his boots, and breathed in the grassy scent that blended with the crowd's loudness and excitement.

His body was in peak condition already as he had done light exercises this morning and also drank a glass of lemon water.

Shortly after completing the warm-up, they were escorted back to the locker room for last-minute preparations. The crew was reminded of their responsibilities and the tasks they had completed by Verbeek, who stood in front of them with an air of composure on his face.

He told them to "Stay disciplined, stick to the plan, and keep up the intensity." "Remember, we have an opportunity to prove ourselves in every game. Let us make this one memorable."

The squad returned to the tunnel around 13:27 PM, preparing to get on the pitch. Benjamin proceeded to the bench and took his place among the other substitutes, his nerves jangling.

As the teams got ready to play, the stadium outside was a wall of sounds and cheers, with supporters chanting and stomping. As they awaited the signal, he could hear the synchronized clapping and the slight thud of drums.

They even brought out tifos' to support their team and favorite players.

Each player was greeted by a thunderous announcement from the stadium speakers as the lineup charged forward onto the pitch when the whistle finally blew.

The commentator's voice sounded from the speakers and broke through the buzzing crowd as he said, [Welcome to the AFAS Stadion for the second fixture of the Eredivisie, where Heracles Almelo will hope to extend the hosts' losses to two games.]

He was picked up by his co-commentator, who laughed knowingly. [That's correct. AZ is undoubtedly in a position to establish themselves today after their first loss against Ajax. However, Heracles Almelo won't make things simple. In an attempt to keep AZ Alkmaar winless and take advantage of any early-season nerves, they will be coming in strong.]

With a hint of excitement in his voice, the first commentator leaned forward. [Not to mention that AZ has changed a couple things after that most recent loss. Jozy Altidore, who is always a menace in the box, is spearheading their attack today. He could really set the tone with a few early goals.]

[But Heracles Almelo's defense will look to hold him off as best as they can," the second commentator continued. "When they get into their groove, they realize how deadly AZ may be. Who controls the midfield will be crucial, and Viktor Elm and Martens both have a difficult job ahead of them.]

As the AZ squad formed a line, their faces fixed on the camera, it panned over them. When the first commentator started introducing the lineup, his voice grew deeper. [AZ Alkmaar has Alvarado in goal, who is a reliable presence in between the sticks.]

[We'll see Marcellis on the right, Gorter on the left, and the center-back combination of Viergever and Reijnen at the back,] he added.

With ease, the second commentator picked up. [Viktor Elm and Martens, who are both renowned for their grit and control, are holding down the midfield.]

[Gudmundsson on the left wing, Berghuis on the right wing, with Overtoom at center attacking midfield,] he said, amid applause from the audience.

The first analyst said, raising his voice, [And leading the line for AZ Alkmaar is Jozy Altidore, the American whom everyone's watching.]

With an equally enthusiastic tone, the second announcer moved to Heracles Almelo's roster as the cheers subsided. [Pasveer, a keeper who has consistently shown himself, is in goal for Heracles.]

His partner, calmly said, [Defensive line-up of Davidson, Rienstra, Te Wierik, and Breukers. And we have Duarte, Overtoon, and Bruns in midfield.]

Heracles' attack was shown on camera. He went on, [We have Armenteros on the left wing, Rosheuvel on the right wing, and the target man, Gouriye, up top on the forefront.]

As both teams prepared to take the field, there was a round of applause for the final introductions.

Anxiety and exhilaration sent shivers down Benjamin's spine. He was going to see this firsthand, not as a spectator but as a member of the team, prepared to play if called upon.

The game finally began when the referee blew his whistle.

The ball was confidently moved down the field by Heracles Almelo as he kicked off, but AZ Alkmaars' defenders pushed forward and contested every pass.

Heracles' attackers were forced to play wide as Viktor Elm and Martens closed them down, starting the midfield struggle almost immediately.

As the game progressed, Benjamin's eyes were fixed on the field from the bench. With every play, the supporters' chants increased and decreased, and he was involved in the rhythm, sensing the rise and fall of stress.

The 12th minute was the first significant opportunity.

Overtoom threw a clever pass to Altidore, who spun quickly and ran toward the box. He dodged a Heracles defender with a swift body movement and fired a forceful shot.

The crowd held its breath for a while as the ball flew toward the top corner. However, Heracles' goalie reacted quickly and punched it over the crossbar, causing the crowd to sigh collectively.

The voices of the commentators echoed loudly across the speakers. ["And Altidore's shot was a tight one! Even though he looks great today, the Heracles goalie somehow gets his hands on it!"]

Heracles countered with a quick, high-energy onslaught in the 20th minute, testing AZ's defensive line.

As the ball flew across the field, Reijnen and Viergever scurried, following the movements of their opponents. Feeling the stress, Benjamin leaned forward and gripped the edge of his seat.

["Heracles is taking a vacation! Can AZ Alkmaar keep them at bay? This is risky."] With an excited edge to his voice, one of the commentators roared.

Marcellis narrowly missed a pass intended for the Heracles striker, who had been in the ideal position to shoot, with a sliding tackle. As Marcellis clambered back to his feet, the home crowd burst into cheers, acknowledging the effort.

Viktor Elm and Martens put in a lot of effort in the center, intercepting passes and reusing possession as AZ Alkmaar maintained control of the pace throughout the first half.

While Berghuis' quick feet and quick moves on the right wing kept the Heracles defenders guessing, Overtoom and Gudmundsson pressed forward, attempting to create gaps between Heracles' lines.

Berghuis grabbed a loose ball on the wing, sprinted forward, and sent a cross into the box just before the half. It was Altidore, who leaped to meet it with a forceful header.

The crowd cheered as it shot toward the goal, but the Heracles keeper was in position once more, catching the ball in mid-air.

Tension and frustration increased among the supporters as they yelled for the squad to advance and support each near-miss. Hoping for them to capitalize on a rebound.

As the minutes passed, neither party was able to break the stalemate.