The Limburg North-South confrontation between VVV-Venlo and Roda JC Kerkrade has not resulted in a winner. In the Koel it became 1-1.
The draw was a fair reflection of Sunday afternoon’s game.
Lineups
At Roda, Xian Emmers was not fit enough to start the match, so Davy van den Berg took his place in midfield. At VVV the credo was ‘never change a winning team’ and so Jos Luhukay started with the expected starting eleven.
First 45 minutes
In good weather conditions, but on poor turf, the match got off to a slow start in an atmospheric Koel. There was a first opportunity for Guus Joppen. The former VVV member headed a free kick from Benjamin Bouchouari just wide of Delano van Crooij’s goal. Almost half an hour had been played when Dylan Vente scored the 0-1 out of nowhere, but with a beautiful bang. Almost immediately followed by a nice equalizer. Nick Venema controlled the ball over goalkeeper Rody de Boer into the Roda goal, 1-1 (30′).
Roda increased the pace and that created opportunities. For Vente, but his header went wide and a shot by Van den Berg, which also went wide. VVV had opportunities through Venema and Schroijen, but goalkeeper De Boer intervened well. After the cautious start, it was an attractive first half, which ended with the 1-1 halftime score.
2nd half
From the start of the second half, the teams looked for the attack. VVV won more duels and trainer Jos Luhukay exchanged Carl Johansson for Yahcuroo Roemer. But opponent Roda got the first chances after the break through Patrick Pflücke and Bryan Limbombe. The long shots went wide or were caught by Dylano van Crooij.
Roda coach Jürgen Streppel exchanged Bouchouari, who was not in the game, for Mohamed Amissi. Both teams went for the full win. Roda became stronger, VVV had to go back. Opportunities arose for the Kerkrade team, which also appealed for a penalty when Vente was stopped. But arbitrator Kamphuis saw nothing in it.
Jos Luhukay tried to get a better grip on the game and brought in Sven Braken for Joeri Schroijen and Jonas Theuerzeit for substitute Kees de Boer. There was still a little over fifteen minutes to go. Roda exchanged Van den Berg and Limbombe for Tomer Altman and Jamie Yayi Mpie. The latter had another great chance but did not score. Van Crooij saved just before the final whistle with a feline reaction to a bet by Patrick Pflücke. In extra time, De Boer had to save on a shot by Rayan El Azrak.
Both teams had to be content with a point.