With the most crucial weeks of the season approaching, Roda passed Telstar in fits and starts: 4-3
The route leading up to the first round of the play-offs is by no means flawless for Roda JC. After defeats against FC Emmen and FC Den Bosch, Roda was completely unrecognizable against Telstar for a long time, but eventually won it spectacularly, and also dragged home advantage out of the fire in the first play-off round.
Denouement
In recent weeks, it has mainly been about getting ready for the denouement of the season. For a while, even top marks in the rankings beckoned, but as spring came around the corner, Roda JC was no longer the swinging team of about a month ago in recent matches. And it was also very difficult against Telstar.
summer evening
After seven minutes, the Kerkrades seemed to be sitting in a seat, after Patrick Pflücke struck untenable from the edge of the penalty area. But then it looked like a game of summer evening football was being played in the park. Telstar understood and had a sharp striker with Giovanni. Guus Joppen allowed himself to be fooled by the Ajax mercenary, who hit the target. Ten minutes before half-time, Roda’s defenders thought the ball had crossed the back line, but referee Van der Laan allowed the game to continue without VAR. The yellow-blacks looked on, Giovanni knew that if there is no whistle, the game will continue and struck again: 1-2.
worrisome
Immediately after the break, the home team escaped a bigger deficit after fiddling by goalkeeper Rody de Boer and it looked like it would be a disastrous evening. Especially when Bensabouh made the 1-3 and seemed to make the decision.
spectacle
While Jurgen Streppel made changes and saw several players back to work, thanks to Joppen’s connecting goal, a true remontada† And the Kerkrades turned out to be mentally strong. Dylan Vente headed in the equalizer and Pflücke used a penalty just before the end: 4-3.
Route
That also made a big difference for the route in the play-offs, because Roda now ends the regular season in fifth place, becoming the best-ranked team in the last period after the eventual winner FC Emmen. That also provides the club with a nice amount of more than 60,000 euros. An unanticipated bonus.
Mentally
For Streppel and co, the dessert of the season starts next Tuesday evening in Rotterdam against Excelsior. Next Saturday the return will follow in its own Parkstad Limburg Stadium. Football was not good against Telstar, but with the support of the public and mental resilience, Kerkrade is in any case good. And that can also pay off.