RKC and SC Heerenveen might as well have stayed at home because football was barely played in Waalwijk on Saturday evening. Rarely was a football match as boring as RKC – Heerenveen. The match ended in a bloodless draw.
Both RKC and SC Heerenveen have seen the bottom teams get closer in recent weeks. Both teams are still in a safe place, but the pressure was quite high on Saturday night. That was not good for the level of the match.
The game was boring and the chances scarce. If there were any chances at all, they were for the visitors. Antony Musaba missed eye to eye with goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen in the first half. In the second half, the Frisians were close through Nick Bakker. He hit the bar from a corner.
anxious
Other than that, nothing actually happened in Waalwijk. All attacks were very predictable and easy to defend. Neither side dared to take any real risks, knowing that defeat would increase concerns.
Not that a draw would help RKC or Heerenveen, but that would limit the damage. Heerenveen have not won in the last nine games. RKC gave away the points in the final phase in the last three games.
Worries are increasing
With a point, the damage was limited but the looking down for RKC remains. The players and staff are convinced of the fact that the Waalwijkers are going to maintain, but the club is now under the line based on loss points. If Willem II wins tomorrow at Fortuna Sittard and Sparta manages to defend the 1-0 lead at Vitesse for six minutes (the match was discontinued last week), RKC will be in sixteenth place.
That place means playoffs at the end of the season. It is of course far from that, but concerns are increasing with eight games to go.
Goalless
There was not much else to say about the match, although Juriën Gaari still hit the crossbar in injury time. There were a thousand activities that were more fun than watching RKC – Heerenveen. This edition will not make the history books. There was also no scoring. After 90 minutes there was still a 0-0 on the scoreboard.
A visit to Vitesse is waiting for RKC next week. There the way up must be started again.