RKC lost 2-0 to Feyenoord on Sunday afternoon at home. Two counters from Rotterdam’s number three in the Eredivisie made the difference. Because of the defeat, the Waalwijkers have to look down again in the ranking instead of up.
RKC held out against Feyenoord for 45 minutes. In fact, it barely gave away any chances and was close to a goal in the opening phase. Jens Odgaard gave with an overhead kick, but Saïd Bakari was unable to convert the feat into a goal.
Just when the supporters in the sold-out Mandemakers Stadium started to believe in a stunt, things went wrong in the back. Just like last Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the KNVB Cup tournament, the keeper was allowed to charge himself with the opening goal.
blunder
On Wednesday it was second goalkeeper Issam El Maach who made a mistake, this time it was Etienne Vaessen’s turn. The RKC goalie alternates good moments with big blunders this season.
Just before half time Feyenoord was able to counter after a corner from the Waalwijkers. Vaessen came out of his goal on a long ball from behind, but he was much too late. Orkun Köckü took full advantage of the error of judgment. He was able to shoot the ball into the empty goal: 0-1.
It was an unnecessary goal because RKC was strong in the back and could come out every now and then. Feyenoord had the most possession of the ball and was the most threatening, but the team rarely created opportunities that were played out.
Until in the second half, after a mistake by Melle Meulensteen, there was a free shooting opportunity for Alireza Jahanbakhsh. The Feyenoord attacker encountered Vaessen, who made up for his mistake somewhat with a great save.
Worries are increasing
RKC stayed in the game, but the home team did not create any real opportunities. Until a quarter of an hour before time. Odgaard was the end station of a smoothly running attack. The attacker tried to pin the ball but could just be removed from the line by a defender. It was the chance for the 1-1.
In the last fifteen minutes, RKC increased the pressure, but the home team did not come to an equalizer. There was, however, a second Rotterdam goal. In the last minute, ex-PSV player Jorrit Hendrix made no mistake face to face with Vaessen after a good counter: 0-2.
After the winter break, the Waalwijkers seemed to have started the way up with two wins in a row, but they have to look down again. Almost all competitors won, so that the gap to place sixteen is only three points. Enforcement is far from done for RKC, but they will never panic in Waalwijk. There is no reason for that for the time being, although they have been warned.