RKC Waalwijk provided a stunt on Sunday afternoon. Joseph Oosting’s team recorded a great victory at Vitesse: 1-2.
RKC started the game very weakly. Vaessen was allowed to fish after barely five minutes. A short corner ended up at Maximilian Wittek, who pulled out from edge sixteen. Vaessen was able to save in a packed sixteen, but not far enough to the side. That way, Openda could easily tap in.
Happy equalizer
The Waalwijkers woke up pretty quickly. It went a bit more football in the half of Vitesse and without creating a real chance, it also scored. A falling ball rolled at the feet of Melle Meulensteen, who tried it from about thirty meters. The captain’s effort was diverted along the way and just disappeared into the goal. So the score was level again after fifteen minutes.
Then the pace dropped a bit. The home side had some small chances. Baden Frederiksen headed over, while Tronstad and Dasa tried from a distance. RKC had to rely on the threat of Jens Odgaard. He shot at goalkeeper Houwen from a difficult angle, but that was it for the first half.
Surprising lead
The second half was the world upside down compared to the first. Where RKC was already behind after five minutes in the first half, it was exactly the other way around after the break. Odgaard brought in low, Kramer stepped over the ball and Büttner was able to shoot in. He worked the ball very hard into the Arnhem goal. This is how the Waalwijkers surprisingly took the lead.
More happened in the first fifteen minutes after the break. Vitesse soon thought to equalize, but Openda was offside. RKC had been warned for the Arnhem storm that seemed imminent. There were also opportunities for the home side. Many of those opportunities involved Lois Openda, but each time he failed to capitalize on them.
Surviving in the final phase
The final phase arrived and RKC lurked on the counter. They could even decide the match via Odgaard, but his marker failed. Then it was Vitesse’s turn again. Substitute Buitink shot wide. Openda also appeared dangerously in front of Vaessen’s goal, but shot wildly over.
And although it has often gone wrong for RKC in the final phase this season, the Waalwijkers did win in Arnhem. As a result, RKC came to 27 points and thus distanced itself from the play-off line for relegation football.