1/2 Brian Brobbey and Etienne Vaessen. (Photo: Olaf Kraak)
“All or nothing”, RKC Waalwijk supporters sang before the match against Ajax. It ended up being ‘nothing’. In the last ten minutes of the previously halted match with the team from Amsterdam, the score remained 2-3. The best moment of the match was afterwards, when RKC Waalwijk goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen and Ajax striker Brian Brobbey hugged each other and exchanged shirts.
The Eredivisie meeting on September 30 was stopped after 83 minutes and 45 seconds at a 2-3 score. This is because Vaessen was seriously injured after a collision with Ajax striker Brian Brobbey. He was even resuscitated as a precaution. Fortunately, the injury was not too bad in the end and he returned to the starting line-up against Go Ahead Eagles on November 11. From now on he will keep goal with a helmet.
Vaessen was also under the bar in the remainder against Ajax. The other players who were on the field at RKC in the 84th minute were also present on Wednesday evening. At Ajax there were three changes to the team due to injuries. Brobbey was in the starting line-up.
From the first whistle on Wednesday evening, the Waalwijk supporters fully supported the team. The Mandemakers Stadium was only more than half full with supporters, but plenty of noise was made. The tall attackers Michiel Kramer and David Min were wanted in the front and they caused war near the sixteen-meter area. Filip Stevanovic had the biggest chance, but his header went just over Diant Ramaj’s goal. So the score remained 2-3 and everyone was actually at peace with that.
“We are top athletes, but health is the most important thing.”
Afterwards it was mainly about the reunion between Vaessen and Brobbey. Ajax coach John van ‘t Schip had not seen the hug between the two, but called it a wonderful moment. “We are all top athletes, but health is the most important thing. It is great that Vaessen is doing well and that he is back in action.”
He was of course also happy for his own team. “This was a match that we could only lose. There was one dangerous moment, you know it could come. We are happy that we kept the lead.”
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