Roda JC defeated Jong AZ on the artificial grass of the AFAS Training Complex in Wijdewormer with 0-1. In the pouring rain, the Kerkrades took the lead twelve minutes before the end thanks to a curious own goal by Zico Buurmeester and did not relinquish it in the remaining time.
It gave the team of coach Jurgen Streppel three important points in the final phase of the competition.
Opportunity
Roda JC got a chance to open the score shortly after the signal from referee Ruperti, but Patrick Pflücke preferred to give a pass to Bryan Limbombe instead of shooting the goal himself. Shortly afterwards, Mohamed Taabouni shot the ball from a distance wide of Rody de Boer’s goal. The Kerkrades and the home team then tried to work the ball into the opponent’s goal. A shot by Limbombe was not good enough to surprise goalkeeper Beau Reus and Fedde de Jong shot the ball into De Boer’s hands after a mistake by Amir Absalem. Peer Koopmeiners then shot a free kick high over and a swipe by Patrick Pflücke did not cause any problems for goalkeeper Reus.
Not spectacular
The game in the first half hour wasn’t spectacular, but it wasn’t boring either. The game went up and down, but Roda JC’s crosses resulted in no shots or headers on target. Roda was the better team against the AZ youngsters in the first half and was close to a goal on the stroke of half-time, were it not for Daryl Werker’s header. The two soggy teams then ended the first half with 0-0.
Second half
After the resumption, the Kerkrades had some opportunities to take the lead. Robert Klaasen and Patrick Pflücke shot wide. After Xian Emmers carelessly lost the ball, De Boer stopped a shot by Milos Kerkez.
Roda knocks on the door
Roda knocked on the door. Emmers was left with a corner from an attack and a long shot from Bryan Limbombe was tapped out of the corner by goalkeeper Reus. Goalkeeper De Boer had hardly had anything to do since the second part of the first half, but managed to clear a cross that was caught by the wind just off the goal line. After three quarters of the game, Streppel exchanged Emmers and Limbombe for Mohamed Amissi and Davy van den Berg. The latter immediately created danger, but goalkeeper Reus made a good save.
Ball rolls into own goal: 0-1
The yellow-blacks increased the pressure in the latter part of the game and got more and more control over the game. Twelve minutes before the end, Jurgen Streppel’s team took the lead thanks to an own goal by Zico Buurmeester. He misjudged the position of goalkeeper Reus, after which the ball rolled into Jong AZ’s goal.
Fifth
Roda played it safe in the final phase and achieved an important victory. With five games to play, the Kerkrades are now fifth in the Kitchen Champion Division. They are still six points away from the coveted second place.