Willem II was dead and buried during the half-time match against Cambuur. Coach Kevin Hofland’s team was 0-1 behind, while the scores on the other fields were unfavorable. The Tilburg club fought back and played a draw (1-1), so that they can still hope for maintenance in the Eredivisie.
Before the start of the penultimate round of play, no fewer than seven teams had to worry about possible relegation. Hofland was clear after last Saturday’s fantastic match against Heracles Almelo. He did not want to look at others, but achieved a good result twice himself.
Where Willem II against Heracles, supported by the fanatical supporters, raged over the field like a whirlwind, it was a lot more difficult in Leeuwarden. The home team had the dominance of the field and the better chances in the first half.
After twenty minutes, Wessel Dammers clumsily lost the ball to Roberts Uldrikis. The tall striker gave Issa Kallon an almost unmissable opportunity. Face to face with Timon Wellenreuther, however, he shot the ball very high over the Willem II goal. The Tricolores escaped unscathed. Shortly before halftime, that was not the case. Sekou Sylla left Wellenreuther without a chance with a drop of about 25 meters: 1-0.
Comeback soon after rest
Where Willem II fought in the first half but was unable to make a fist, it did in the second half. In the pouring rain it was already close to the equalizer in the first minutes after the break via Freek Heerkens and Mats Köhlert. Ten minutes after the break, Max Svensson and Derrick Köhn saw themselves score, but with that goal in the head they got in each other’s way and the chance was lost.
The next attack was a hit for Willem II. Köhn once again steamed up on the left. The fullback was able to get far and tried the moment he dribbled into the penalty area. A successful attempt: the slider disappeared into the goal past goalie Sonny Stevens: 1-1.
Lifebuoy within reach
Willem II and Cambuur then both had opportunities for a goal, but no more goals were scored in the mediocre game. The tension seemed to be clearly in Willem II’s legs and the closer it got to the final whistle, the more that doubt became visible. Pushing for the winning goal, at the risk of conceding, or cherishing the point. It eventually became a point, which means that the Tilburg team can still finish sixteenth on Sunday and take a life buoy towards enforcement with the play-offs. Even the fifteenth place is still possible.
Willem II must win at home against FC Utrecht on Sunday. At the same time, everyone with a red-white-blue heart will look at the developments at NEC – Fortuna Sittard and Heracles Almelo – Sparta. Fortuna may, if it is up to Willem II, not win, while Sparta must lose. With other results, relegation is a fact.