Groningen batter Vitesse in season opener

Saturday 30 August 2008

Two penalties and two shots from distance led to an easy 4-0 away victory of FC Groningen against A stunningly poor Vitesse Arnhem.

Sepp de Roover, Koen van de Laak, Markus Berg and Jevgeni Levtsjenko were the executioners.

Vitesse were especially weak in the first half.

There was no forward power, chaos in defense.

FC Groningen played with more zeal, but did little with the chances they created.

At half time the score should have been bigger than the 1-0 from a 30 meter volley by defender Sepp de Roover.

All Vitesse had to offer was a distant shot by Santi Kolk that hit the outside of the post.

After the break Vitesse came a bit more aggressive but Groningen's Brazilian goal keeper Luciano da Silva only had to pluck a few high crosses.

Halfway through the second half the game was decided when Frank van der Struijk fouled Berg on his way to the goal.

The defender got his second yellow and the awarded spot kick was converted by Van de Laak.

Berg did the same five minutes later when Civard Sprockel brought down Gonzalo Garcia Garcia in the box.

In the 78th minute Levtsjenko knocked in the fourth from 25 meters out.