V.d.Heijden: as a boy on the sidelines in 2013, now the title beckons

As a ten-year-old boy, he was on the sidelines when Rotterdam became national champions for the first time and for the time being for the last time in 2013. Pepijn van der Heijden looked forward to the players who led the club to the title. Thirteen years later he is in the final himself. And played a not insignificant role in this. With a penalty shot, the defender helped Rotterdam to a 3-2 win over Amsterdam on Saturday in the first final match for the national championship. This puts the Rotterdam team on match point for the second title in club history.

“We are 3-2 ahead, but it is not more than that,” says Van der Heijden as a number of children gather around him, chasing his autograph. 'In these types of matches it can go either way. You saw that last week too. It can go very fast. The lead is nice, but nothing more.'

Amsterdam quickly recovered and reduced the deficit to 1-2. But five minutes later there was brother Timme, who put the 1-3 on the board after a careful through pass from Nick van Trigt.