Almere City right back, Hamdi Akujobi says he and his teammates approach to their Eredivisie qualification semi final tie with VVV Venlo on Tuesday night would be different and very adaptable to lead them to a comfortable first leg advantage away from home.
Akujobi put in a good shift in Almere City win over FC Eindhoven last week and the former Flying Eagles player told dasportstainment247.com that recording a good win away win would be their target as they eye a place in the final of the playoff.
He said they know VVV Venlo too well and have put the results they had with them during the regular season behind them with the conviction that the playoff round has given them better momentum and rhythm to approach the two legs with the assurance that they could win it.
“I will say I am extremely delighted that we have made it this far. It was a great feat for us that we could pull that off against FC Eindhoven. We believed in ourselves and God came through for us,” Akujobi told dasportstainment247.com.
“We know that the farther we go the farther it becomes for us. We know we would be up against VVV Venlo who have the slight edge based on the games we played earlier in the season. Things are different now and we believe we have the momentum and are fired up to beat them over the course of both legs.
“We will try not to be under pressure away from our fans. We want to win and win well to make the return leg at home a formality on Saturday.”
Venlo qualified to the last four stage 5-4 on aggregate over Willem II to set up a date with Almere City in the last four of the Erevdivisie qualification tonight and on Saturday.
Both teams met twice during the regular season with Venlo winning both legs 3-0 at home and 3-1 away but Almere City will be brimming with confidence over their new found form which saw them patiently conquer FC Eindhoven.
Almere City lost in the first round of the playoff round two seasons ago to NEC Nijmegen but have gone a step further this season and could seal a final ticket. Hamdi Akujobi and his teammates will be eyeing an historic maiden ticket to the Eredivisie since their formation in 2001.
In the other semi final tie, NAC Breda will host Emmen FC on Wednesday night in the first leg tie. Emmen finished in the 16th in the Dutch Eredivisie and are involved in the playoff to keep their topflight status if they could win it.
