That Roda JC’s matches are almost never boring this season, proved once again on Friday evening in Kerkrade. Eight goals were scored against Helmond Sport: 5-3.
The 17th victory of the season results in a provisional fourth place, partly due to the results on the other fields.
spectacle
The sigh of relief halfway through the second half, when Patrick Pflücke made it 4-3, fitted in perfectly with the exciting game in which there seemed to be no problem for the Kerkrades. In which opponent Helmond Sport also came back from 3-0 to 3-3 and the game was temporarily stopped by referee Laurens Gerrets, after a plastic cup ended up on the field from the stands.
pace
Roda started at breakneck speed. It was 3-0 within half an hour against the closing gates. First, Xian Emmers hit the target, not much later Dylan Vente got the opportunity to score his 21st and 22nd goal of the season. And of course, the club’s top scorer didn’t let those opportunities be taken away from him.
Sloppy
It was not so strange that Jarno Lion scored on behalf of Helmond Sport before the break. The Brabant players played freely where possible and because the home team acted sloppy a few times, Lion was completely free at the far post with a corner. Goalkeeper De Boer made a mistake and the midfielder headed in. On the stroke of half-time, Dylan Seys also hit the post out of reach of De Boer.
Ukraine
It went partly in the way that the team Jurgen Streppel is so typical of: dominant and often at a fast pace. And because it was often open house on both sides, the 8200 spectators in the Parkstad Limburg Stadium were thoroughly entertained. Among them are about 50 war refugees from Ukraine, who are received in the Kerkraades Abbey Rolduc and with host families. To give their outing some extra cachet, they were transported to and from their temporary home in the official team bus.
Chaotic
Due to the large position in the ranking, Jurgen Streppel has the opportunity to add emphasis to his line-up on the way to the play-offs. This time both Benjamin Bouchouari and Davy van den Berg were allowed to start together in midfield. Halfway through, Klaassen, Van Anholt and Amissi were given the opportunity to make minutes. But the messes remained and things got more chaotic. Immediately after the break, the defenders stood by and watched the guests make 3-2 and 3-3 in the space of one minute.
Decision
The fact that Pflücke and Emmers eventually turned things around again and brought their team to the 5-3 final score will satisfy Streppel. The key players standing up when the going gets tough is a comforting thought.
dessert
It has been clear for some time that Roda JC can fully focus on the play-offs. The numbers are on with an unbeaten status in the last eight games in a row. The team now mainly wants to maintain that good form towards the dessert of the season. In the knowledge that the club has come a long way, that is a major achievement. A little more accuracy can easily provide a nice end to the football vintage.