RKC Waalwijk failed to take three points in the tenth round. At Fortuna Sittard, the yellow and blue drew scoreless. Joseph Oosting’s team had the best chances of a goal throughout the game, but that didn’t happen. On a positive note, the Waalwijkers kept a clean sheet for the first time this season.
In an atmospheric Fortuna Sittard Stadium, RKC wanted to continue the good form of the past few weeks. The Waalwijkers have already been unbeaten for three games and won an away game for the first time last week (2-3 at FC Groningen). Opponent Fortuna is even better. After a bad start to the season, the Limburgers have found themselves again and have collected no less than ten points from the last four games. It promised to be an interesting duel in round ten of the Eredivisie.
RKC scores a lot this season. Oosting’s formation scored the most goals in the Eredivisie after the traditional top three. Also in Sittard, the Waalwijkers should have made at least one after ten minutes. Tastemaker Illiass Bel Hassani was allowed to take a free pass in the penalty area, but he placed the ball right in the hands of goalkeeper Ivan Pandur. Moments later, two more opportunities followed, via Thierry Lutonda and again Bel Hassani.
Plowing in balance
RKC was in control for the first fifteen minutes. After that Fortuna also started playing football. The home team was dangerous for Etienne Vaessen’s goal a number of times. The game was tied until halftime: 0-0.
Despite a rightly disallowed goal by Michiel Kramer, RKC showed little in the initial phase of the second company. Fortuna became stronger and went looking for the opening goal. The Turkish striker Burak Yilmaz was close by and moments later Vaessen had to act for the first time on a bet from the home team. RKC had to go into reverse for a while.
After exactly an hour, the Waalwijkers took matters into their own hands again. Julian Lelieveld put the ball ready for his fellow wing defender Lutonda. The effort of the Belgian was cleverly turned by Pandur. Oosting then brought in last week’s hero, Mika Biereth, into the squad. The question was whether the Arsenal mercenary could also ensure victory this time.
Exciting final phase
Another question was whether there would be another winner in Sittard this Saturday evening. RKC played a lot of football in the half of the Fortunezen and got the chance of victory in the 84th minute via Patrick Vroegh. His effort was only too weak, so that the ball could be processed into a corner. In the final seconds, RKC escaped a penalty. Despite intervention by the VAR, referee Joey Kooij decided not to put the ball at eleven meters. He saw no violation by an RKC player, who hung on the shirt of Yilmaz, who had thanked the Turkish team earlier this year after an impressive international career.
An exciting game ended in a goalless draw. Another point for Joseph Oosting’s team, which continues to cause a stir and is seventh in the ranking.