Not being able to make a fist offensively and making mistakes too often defensively. It is a recurring problem with Willem II. That was also the case against FC Twente on Saturday. An issue that caused the Tilburg-squad to leave the field with a loss for its tenth league game in a row.
In the previous nine games that were lost, Willem II scored only four times. While goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther had to get the ball out of the net no less than 26 times. Another goal was scored in the home game against FC Twente. And there could easily have been more.
Warnings and goal
Halfway through the first half, Daan Rots headed the ball past Wellenreuther. The young FC Twente player escaped the attention of Mats Köhlert. Just after the ball went over the goal line, the assistant referee raised his flag. The difference was very small, but after a long study of the images, the VAR agreed with the decision to flag for offside. Even with the well-known lines, it was almost impossible to see whether it was really offside.
Manfred Ugalde scored ten minutes before half time. Just before the ball disappeared into the goal, referee Van de Graaf whistled for a foul by Ricky van Wolfswinkel. In an ultimate attempt to reach the ball, he knocked over Wellenreuther. They were warnings. It also created the feeling that the team of coach Ron Jans had to wait for a goal. The 0-1 finally fell shortly before half-time.
After Wellenreuther was completely wrong, Görkem Saglam rushed the ball over the back line. The ball was brought back into the penalty area after a corner kick was deflected. Willem II forgot to intervene decisively, so that Michael Sadilek eventually got the ball at his feet. He fired the ball confidently.
Attacking impotence
It was clear that Willem II had to do things differently in the second half to avoid another defeat. But it was the visitors who got the chance. Ricky van Wolfswinkel was very close to 0-2 after an hour, his header went just wide of Wellenreuther’s goal. While shortly before that a bet by Gijs Smal went wide and a cross from him went past without anyone touching the ball. The team of trainer Fred Grim was not really able to counteract that.
In addition to the fact that FC Twente was able to create the necessary opportunities, Willem II’s offensive impotence became clear again. In the last twenty minutes of the game more pressure was put forward, but there were no real opportunities.
The club announced before the game that Jizz Hornkamp – provided he passes the medical examination – will make the switch from FC Den Bosch to Willem II. He has to help the Tricolores score goals. Or at least opportunities. Because despite a small final offensive, it was also lacking against FC Twente.
Relegation battle
While Willem II again did not take points, PEC Zwolle did. Last week, the last team won against Willem II. Now sc Heerenveen was defeated. The number eighteen in the Eredivisie is now on twelve points, only six less than the Tilburg team. Fortuna Sittard (seventeenth) and Sparta Rotterdam (sixteenth) are respectively five and four points less, but still have a game to play this weekend. Everything indicates that it will be a very exciting relegation battle.