After a mandatory rest on Saturday, Nov. 6, another match was scheduled away from RBC. At least there would be football, Bastiaan had said on Thursday. Either competition, or if the match was cancelled, friendly or training. Competition was out, because what we had already seen on television: in the south of the country it was pouring rain and KNVB Zuid I was completely cancelled.
The children in the south could now watch the arrival of Sinterklaas. The D2 did not, because they played a friendly match against RBC from Roosendaal. No Sinterklaas (I suspect they feel too old for that anyway) but a treat for the boys, they were allowed to play in the beautiful little stadium of RBC that seats 5,000 spectators.
Probably because of the friendly nature of the match, the stadium for the match RBC D2 - PSV D2 was not completely sold out. However, the entire press stand (or honor stand I don't know) was well filled with RBC and PSV supporters who shared the same section in a friendly atmosphere. No bad words back and forth; no shouting; the atmosphere was extremely friendly.
The D2 started the match with what has been practiced lately: trapping the opponent and taking the ball back as quickly as possible. And that actually went pretty easily, or at least it looked that way. From the start, RBC had a lot of trouble getting the ball out of their own half, and most of the time they did not succeed. Thus the game constantly played out in RBC's half.
The comparison should not really be made, but there seem to be Spanish / Barcelona influences creeping into the game of the D2; and well there are worse examples to choose from. And where Barcelona also needs a lot of chances quite often, the D2 had the same today. There was so much fun passing and combining that it seemed the players were sorry to shoot the ball into the net. Because yes, then of course you lose the ball to the opponent again, and that is also a pity. So in the first 10 minutes we had 5 chances that could have been scored, but they were not taken.
This was too much for Amar after some time and with a delicious Amar-solo, zoef zoef, from his own half 2 men parked and not too generous; just do it yourself and the 0-1 is a fact. After about 20 minutes, a wonderful moment from Cody that brings all the spectators to their benches: a truly fantastic overhead kick but the ball disappears wide of the goal. After a few more chances, Cody is then sent deep and with a reception Cody (which we see coming in advance and also the result), a beautiful lob the 0-2.
The defenders in the back stay ready and cool. If the ball gets there once, it is calmly played back and forth, briefly back to the goalkeeper preferably, then forward again when the RBC attackers no longer try to take the ball away.
The 0-3 was also scored before half-time. Roland set himself free with a nice move and could only be stopped illegally. As we know our little big man, Roland immediately takes the ball in his hands and gestures to the side that he deserves to take advantage of it. However, Bastiaan is relentless - deal is deal - and Armando is allowed to put himself behind the ball. The goalkeeper can still turn the good effort away but there is Justin with the 0-3.
A remarkable moment when Cody got into an awkward situation after an action near the back line and tried to force a corner kick. Only Cody was already further ahead with his thoughts than the ball could have rolled, and well before the back line he grabs the ball in his hands. Although perhaps the referee also thought that a corner kick was a just reward, he had to penalize this hand action and give a free kick to RBC.
Final chord for Robin who sees a beautiful marker end up on the crossbar and rest.
In the second half, James at right-back position brings new spirit and momentum to the team. James covers the entire right side of the field and regularly gets through dangerously in front. From one of James' rushes, which he completes with an excellent cross, Cody is able to make it 0-4 in the second half. The 0-5 still falls when Cody fires a free kick into the goal via the underside of the crossbar.
Also in the second half, the number of goal chances cannot be counted on one hand. The D2 has, possibly with the arrival of St. Nicholas in mind, a friendly mood today and leaves it at 0-5.
The very sportive RBC is almost able to score an honorary goal due to some inattentiveness at the back, but unfortunately for the RBC players, it does not work out.
So this very friendly match ends in a regular 0-5.
Hans Bosma