A corona-plagued Roda JC has lost the away match against Excelsior with 2-0.
It was the first loss in the competition since November 22, when Jong Ajax was too strong for Jurgen Streppel’s team. The defeat in Rotterdam was also special, because Roda JC was unable to score. That last happened in the home game against VVV-Venlo, at the end of November last year.
double batter
Within fifteen minutes Roda JC was already looking behind, when Niemeijer crawled away behind the defensive duo Jensen-Werker and headed in a cross from Azarkan. Fifteen minutes later, the assist man doubled the Rotterdam lead for the opening goal. Azarkan reacted faster than the Roda defense after goalkeeper De Boer was unable to process a shot from Goudmijn.
Corona
Roda JC threatened to miss quite a few players, because of corona perils in the past week.
The club management of the Kerkrades raised the problem with the KNVB, had the players tested extra and the conclusion was that it was medically safe to play football. In the end, only central defender Guus Joppen, as a regular base player, was missing from the match sheet. But several players without training or with limited training work from the past few days made their appearance despite everything. And that lack of fitness was visible.
Form
For Roda JC, which occupies eighth place in the Kitchen Champion Division, the duel with Excelsior was a new showdown with one of the top teams in the competition. But where that led to strong performances in recent weeks and the team showed a swinging appearance, it was different on Woudestein’s artificial grass.
lat
Roda often had the ball, but did too little with it. And the home team was extremely effective. Immediately after the break, Davy van den Berg hit the bar, but visitors did not get any closer. And with that, the opening phase of the match was ultimately fatal for Jurgen Streppel’s team.
Series
After eleven games in a row without a loss, that series came to an end. Despite this loss, the sixth time this season, the team of trainer Jurgen Streppel is still firmly in eighth place. Next Friday, Roda JC will receive FC Dordrecht in the Parkstad Limburg Stadium. And that will be the kick-off of a series of six matches in which all promise teams and the last of Helmond Sport will also be opponents.