Roda JC can qualify for the second round of the play-offs on Saturday at home. The Kerkrades played a 2-2 draw against Excelsior at Woudestein in Rotterdam. At halftime, the Kerkrades were still behind 2-0.
Coach Jurgen Streppel kept Benjamin Bouchouari and Richardt Jensen on the bench against the Rotterdam team in the first half and started with Daryl Werker and Guus Joppen in the center back.
To come in action
After just three minutes goalkeeper Stijn van Gassel cleared a bet by Bryan Limbombe. Daryl Werker had to take action shortly afterwards to prevent Mats Wieffer from creating danger in the penalty area of the Kerkrades.
Early backlog
Less than ten minutes into the game when Excelsior took the lead. A smooth combination through the center ended with Kenzo Goudmijn, who slammed the ball into Rody de Boer’s goal.
Roda JC had hardly any response to Excelsior’s game, which after only fifteen minutes had the chance to increase the lead. Rody de Boer prevented Thijs Dallinga from shooting the ball into the goal with a fine save.
Danger
Excelsior kept pressing and created danger in the Kerkrade penalty area with quick attacks. The Kerkrades were hardly dangerous, while Excelsior encountered little resistance on the way to the Roda goal.
Excelsior saves penalty kick
After half an hour, Roda started to play better against the Rotterdam team and got chances to clear the deficit via Davy van den Berg and Bryan Limbombe. Absalem was knocked down in the penalty area in the closing stages of the first half, but the foul was not penalized. On the other side, referee Ingmar Oostrom pointed to the penalty after a foul by Daryl Werker. Thijs Dallinga did not fail to convert the penalty and give the home team a 2-0 lead before half-time.
Second half
Shortly after the restart, Roda JC crawled through the eye of the needle when Mats Wieffer missed a huge chance and Kenzo Goudmijn shot the ball wide. Roda JC got more grip on the game and made frantic efforts to reduce the deficit, but ended up stranded in the opponent’s penalty area for the time being.
Backlog cleared
Halfway through the second half, Dylan Vente shot the ball into the Rotterdam goal from a distance and barely a minute later, Kerkrade’s supporters cheered for the equalizer. Goalkeeper Van Gassel couldn’t control a shot by Xian Emmers and Stefano Marzo was there to tap the ball over the goal line.
In your own hands
Roda kept chasing Van Gassel’s goal. Dylan Vente tried again from a distance, but the ball disappeared into the stands. Ten minutes before the end, Davy van den Berg also tried to hit the ball against the ropes from a great distance, but the Excelsior goalie and the crossbar prevented Roda JC from taking the lead. A few minutes later, Redouan El Yaakoubi headed the ball wide of Rody de Boer’s goal and Siebe Horemans also had no success with his swipe.
The match ended in 2-2 and with that Roda JC has the chance of qualifying for the second round of the play-offs in their own hands.