RKC has booked a draw in the eighth round of the Eredivisie. In an entertaining duel against the number seven in the ranking, Sparta Rotterdam, the Waalwijkers played with one more man for more than half an hour. However, they gave up the lead and the game ended in 2-2.
The Waalwijkers have had a good start to the new Eredivisie season. After seven rounds of play, the team is in eighth place with nine points. The same applies to opponent Sparta Rotterdam. They are even one spot higher than RKC. Enough ingredients for an exciting duel.
Where Sparta took the initiative in the initial phase, it was RKC that took the lead. Captain Michiel Kramer was the end station of a good attack from Waalwijk. He headed a cross from Iliass Bel Hassani behind Sparta goalkeeper Youri Schoonderwaldt. A few minutes later, Etienne Vaessen prevented a quick equalizer.
Good phase Sparta
Fifteen minutes later, the equalizer was still a fact: Spartan Arno Verschueren fumbled the ball in on the edge of offside. The goal didn’t come out of the blue. RKC let Sparta play football and created nothing themselves. After the goal, the visitors only started to play better. RKC was lucky that it ended with a draw.
Joseph Oosting’s team had to change things up in the second half. The only shot they produced in the first half was a goal. In less than five minutes after the break, RKC doubled this number. Thierry Lutonda in particular was close to a renewed lead for the Waalwijkers.
Match tilted
Fifteen minutes after the break, the match turned completely over: RKC showed much better football and that resulted in a goal. Illiass Bel Hassani already made his fourth of the season and gave his team the lead again. After a while it started to look even better. Referee Ingmar Oostrom gave Spartan Shurandy Sambo the rightful red card after a hard foul.
The game picture turned in Sparta’s favour. Despite the man-more situation, RKC gave away the lead. Defender Bart Vriends headed a cross behind Vaessen and brought Sparta alongside. With fifteen minutes to play football, the Waalwijkers had to start again and look for a new lead.
RKC went full on the attack and got a good chance at the 3-2 via Julen Lobete. Due to good goalkeeping by Schoonderwaldt, the ball did not go in. The Waalwijkers did not get further than that chance and it remained 2-2 in the Mandemakers Stadium. RKC had naturally hoped for more.