VOLENDAM VS WAALWIJK PREVIEW & PREDICTION
FC Volendam was unexpectedly disappointed Monday evening at Jong FC Utrecht and as a result the pressure has increased again. The duel with RKC Waalwijk now offers the Oranjehemd the perfect chance to work on self-confidence.
FC Volendam:
FC Volendam seemed to be in the right shape to reach the playoffs and still there is not a problem in the air for the men of trainer Misha Salden. Het Andere Oranje is currently in tenth place and should be able to hold that spot in view of the shape of the last weeks. FC Volendam recently put down a series of four matches that resulted in ten points, which meant that Salden’s team was emphatically reporting the tickets to the playoffs. This is pretty good as FC Volendam even last year in the last place.
Last Monday, FC Volendam traveled to Stadion Galgenwaard for the encounter with Young FC Utrecht and that seemed to be a nice match beforehand to book a new result. Nothing turned out to be less true. Teije ten Den undid the opening goal by Giovanni Troupee, but by the end of the game it was Karim Loukili who managed to win the winning for Young FC Utrecht against the ropes. FC Volendam thus made a big hit on the way to the playoffs.
Due to the busy schedule, FC Volendam was slightly different for Monday night than usual. This week, Enzo Stroo and Gijs Smal will return to the starting line and as a result, Paul Kok and Teije ten Den will have to start on the bench again.
RKC Waalwijk:
RKC Waalwijk’s figures seem to become more dramatic with the week. The team of coach Hans de Koning managed to score six times in the last ten matches and that immediately shows that it is not surprising that RKC has so much trouble winning matches. The Brabanders won only one of the last fifteen matches that RKC played in the Jupiler League. Young PSV was actually defeated for its own public, but the last few weeks have shown that this was an outlier. RKC is desolate nineteenth and will probably no longer leave that place. The gap with the number last Jong FC Utrecht is four points, while Helmond Sport collected five points more than the men of De Koning.
Incidentally, RKC got close to a stunt against champion candidate Fortuna Sittard last Monday in their own Mandemakers Stadium. Dylan Seys opened the score just after the break and the 1-0 on the board also seemed to be the final score. That was, however, outside Lars Hutten counted. The striker of the Limburgers restored the balance on the scoreboard in the 91st minute. A 1-1 draw against a team like Fortuna Sittard is of course a great result, but it does not really make a difference. It is therefore questionable to what extent De Koning can motivate his men for the last three races of the season.
The King will probably have to puzzle on Friday evening to form the defending part of his team. Jan Lammers and Paul Quasten are still sidelined and behind the names of Etienne Vaessen, Gigli Ndefe and Ingo van Weert there is still a question mark due to physical inconveniences. Johan Voskamp and Daan Rienstra have to let the competition shoot because of their injuries.
PREDICTION: Volendam to win @ 1.42
