Although it was an entertaining edition of the IJsselderby, both sides failed to produce a winner on Sunday afternoon. After a poor first half, Go Ahead Eagles fought their way back to draw against PEC Zwolle 2-2.
PEC had ground to make up after Eredivisie defeats against NAC Breda and PSV, as well as the painful cup elimination against NEC last week. However, against Go Ahead, they encountered one of the surprises of the season so far. The Deventer team started the term well with fourteen points from ten matches, but little of that was visible in the first period. Paul Simonis’ team did not know what to do against PEC’s and made several mistakes at the back.
PEC did not punish a few awkward situations with back passes to goalkeeper Luca Plogmann, but still took the lead after twenty minutes as Davy van den Berg broke open the IJssel derby with a super strike. Five minutes later Jamiro Monteiro hit the ball hard from close range after a good pass by Dylan Mbayo. Apart from an early chance for Victor Edvardsen, Go Ahead did little to counter this, to the frustration of their own fans. Even after a short interruption due to a smoke bomb behind the goal, Go Ahead made the same mistakes again.
However, in the second half, Simons’ team turned a corner. Oliver Edvardsen immediately provided the parity-restoring goal after the restart following a low cross by Eric Llansana. As Dylan Vente’s goal for 1-3 was disallowed shortly afterwards due to offside on Sherel Floranus, the hunt for the equalizer began.
Go Ahead upped the intensity and PEC had to pull out all the stops to stay on their feet in Deventer. Goalkeeper Jasper Schendelaar was a key figure, yet he ultimately had no answer to Llansana’s placed shot. Gerrit Nauber had an excellent opportunity to win it late on, yet could only head wide. As a result, Go Ahead draw for a second time in a row. PEC continue their wait for a win on a baron four match streak.
