This weekend Vitesse and FC Volendam faced each other in what was a must win game for both sides. However, Michael Pinto’s sixth minute strike cancelled out a third minute goal from Bilal Ould-Chikh to leave the sides level after a quick start. Yet neither side could find the net again, a source of major frustration for the home side Vitesse or ended the game with a mammoth 3.10 xG, 30 shots in total and eight on target.
They also had 73% of the ball but could not force their way beyond Volendam’s teenage goalkeeper Mio Backhaus for a second time. The on loan Werder Bremen defender ended the game with an impressive seven saves. The result did move both sides within just five points of RKC Waalwijk after they lose 1-0 away to Feyenoord, but the gape to actual safety is at eight points.
While there are plenty of games left, Vitesse will be eyeing the next few weeks as a time they really can ill afford to see any points slip through their grasp. With games against Excelsior and RKC Waalwijk either side of a home game with FC Twente, failure to win either of those will surely be the end of their extended period in the top flight of Dutch football.
For Volendam, their next few matches are all against teams fighting to make the play-offs. In April they have back to back games against the aforementioned Waalwijk and Excelsior, but both sides may have been able to pull away by then.
