Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 10:58 PM• Chris Meijer

SC Heerenveen took its second point of 2022 on Saturday evening. In a little uplifting match against RKC Waalwijk, the Frisians drew 0-0 for the second time in a row. RKC and Heerenveen both take a point in the fight against relegation: the Waalwijkers occupy fourteenth place with four points ahead of the danger zone, the team of interim coach Ole Tobiasen is three places higher with three points more.

The visit to the Mandemakers Stadium meant a reunion with his old club for Anas Tahiri. Just like Joost van Aken, the Belgian midfielder had a base place at Heerenveen, which took a point again last week after seven defeats in a row with a 0-0 draw against Willem II. A little further on in Brabant, Heerenveen got off to a fairly good start, because the Frisians got opportunities early through Sven van Beek and Anthony Musaba. Partly thanks to Etienne Vaessen, RKC got through the initial phase without damage and gradually Richard van der Venne and Jens Odgaard were given some opportunities on behalf of the home team.

However, the match had few highlights in the last phase of the first half and the first part after the break, apart from Sydney van Hooijdonk and Odgaard’s pinpricks. With twenty minutes to play, Heerenveen was suddenly very close to the opening goal. Via Van Beek the ball came to Nick Bakker, who hit the aluminum from the turn. RKC could hardly counter that in the second half.

Referee Jeroen Mandschot had to stop the game in the absolute final phase because fireworks had been thrown onto the field from the section with visiting fans. There was no winner in the five minutes of stoppage time that followed, despite a header by Juriën Gaari still hitting the top of the bar. A home game against Heracles Almelo awaits Heerenveen next Friday, while RKC will visit Vitesse two days later.