VVV-Venlo - RKC Waalwijk 4-1
Prior to kick-off, Glen De Boeck refused to claim that this game was the ‘game of truth’. The supporters in the Seacon Stadion De Koel had other ideas, however. From the moment the turnstiles opened, there was one over-riding thought: “We're going to win!”
Right from the kick-off, VVV-Venlo's intentions were clear, all-out attack. Glen De Boeck's men started in a determined way in this crucial game which led to a number of good chances in the opening phases, the best of which was in the 8th minute, a rush from the right by Yanic Wildschut, whose pass was narrowly missed by the fast-approaching Cullen.
After a number of tentative opening exchanges from both sides, VVV-Venlo took the lead. In the 16th minute it paid dividends. Bryan Linssen supplied a clever pass and Maya Yoshida headed the ball into the net, despite the defensive attempts of Evander Sno. This was a deserved lead for the fiercely-attacking Venlo team.
After 30 minutes, Yanic Wildschut, who was extremely industrious, found a way between two RKC Waalwijk defenders. His finish was exquisite, beating the keeper Zoet with a curled shot using the outside of his right foot, making it 2-0 and sending the supporters into raptures.
After the half time break, the pattern of play was largely the same. VVV-Venlo maintained the pressure, disrupting RKC Waalwijk's attack early on. However, this did not necessarily lead to more chances for Venlo, until the 56th minute when Michael Uchebo reacted to a loose ball quicker than the RKC Waalwijk defence. Uchebo was forced to the byeline and the chance was gone. The 59th minute saw Uchebo again miss an opportunity to open up the visitors, opting to go solo rather than passing to the onrushing Linssen.
In the 66th minute RKC Waalwijk got one back. Following an injury to Uchebo, VVV-Venlo sportingly gave the ball back to the opposition. This attack led to Robert Braber being able to lift the ball over keeper De Vogt to make it 2-1. After this, De Vogt was called into action again and in the 70th minute he saved a shot from Sno.
Just as Venlo were under pressure, Bryan Linssen chased a lost cause, outpacing substitute Uche Nwofor. Linssen finished beautifully with the outside of his left foot to make it 3-1.
In the 78th minute, De Vogt threw the ball out quickly. The ball reached Wildschut via Timisela, controlling it in the air and passing it to the grateful Linssen, who smashed in the fourth goal to the delight of the supporters for the fourth time this evening.
In the last minutes RKC Waalwijk got a penalty. The Vogt easily saved the Yellow-blacks. The crowd and his teammates showed their pride for the goalie. And proud we are, the first victory of the season has arrived!
Photos by Jack Jacobs will be online shortly at http://sportsphotoagency.net/
Saturday 22 October 2011
VVV-VENLO – RKC Waalwijk 4-1
16. Maya Yoshida 1-0, 30. Yanic Wildschut 2-0, 66. Robert Braber 2-1, 73. Uche Nwofor 3-1
Referee: Sanders. Yellow cards:
VVV-Venlo line-up:
Wilko de Vogt; Niels Fleuren, Maya Yoshida, Ferry de Regt, Michael Timisela; Marcel Meeuwis, Bryan Linssen (90. Rogier Molhoek), Barry Maguire, Robert Cullen (82. Soufiane Dadda); Michael Uchebo (70. Uche Nwofor) and Yanic Wildschut.
RKC Waalwijk line-up:
Jeroen Zoet; Sigourney Bandjar, Henrico Drost, Guy Ramos (46. Sander Duits), Ard van Peppen; Adil Auassar, Evander Sno, Aaron Meijers (46. Karim Bridji), Robert Braber; Geoffrey Castillion and Rick ten Voorde.
