The decision had already been given: relegation to the Third Division was a fait accompli for Rijswijk Women 1. Till immediately an surprising plot twist offered itself: due to a protest with the affiliation, the misplaced recreation in opposition to Dopie needed to be replayed and the crew received a second likelihood. Perhaps, simply possibly, issues would end up otherwise this time. However Rijswijk simply swallowed the acid of relegation yet another time.
How does it really feel to be relegated twice in three weeks? Participant Jessey Rosenthal (26) of Rijswijk sums it up sharply: “Many of the women have drunk quite a lot of alcohol. Generally unhappiness simply must be drowned.’
Again to Sunday, June 1, the day the curtain first fell. In Delft, visiting midfielder Dopie, Rijswijk, quantity eleven within the league with two video games to go, had its again in opposition to the wall: solely a win might forestall relegation. However there was no miracle. A 4-2 defeat relegated Rijswijk to the Third Division, a blow that hit exhausting. However, one hanging element didn’t escape the gamers: the goalkeeper of Dopie was a very totally different individual than the one that they had seen within the first match.
‘I normally take note of that. Within the outward match there was a very totally different goalkeeper in objective. With a very totally different goalkeeper’s swimsuit,’ Rosenthal noticed. ‘The Dopie gamers informed me she was a substitute goalkeeper. So I went digging to see if she was really formally on that crew. Effectively, that turned out to not be the case. So I reported it to our match secretary, who despatched it to the KNHB. As a result of sure, it simply didn’t really feel fairly honest.’
Nice was the enjoyment when Rijswijk gained 5-1 in opposition to Catwijck, giving them a second likelihood in opposition to Dopie.
We had been so joyful, it felt like we got a second likelihood .
Ultimately, her instinct proved right: one thing was certainly incorrect. The KNHB decided that the goalkeeper who had been standing beneath the crossbar was not entitled to play. The decision: Dopie was deducted three factors, however extra importantly for Rijswijk: the match needed to be replayed. All of a sudden the door to survival was ajar once more. I used to be at a youth camp with a number of women from my crew. After which immediately this information arrived. We had been so joyful. It felt like we had been being given a second likelihood as a present.’
The fireplace within the crew immediately started to burn once more. They had been nonetheless alive. All of a sudden all the pieces felt doable once more, even the not possible. ‘We knew it will be troublesome, however deep down we believed in a stunt,’ Rosenthal says. The task was clear: get six factors from the final two duels. After which got here the second that they had so hoped for. The signal that the season may but finish otherwise. Catwijck, nota bene the quantity 4 of the league, was overwhelmed by massive numbers (5-1). The job was not but achieved, however this felt like step one towards one thing particular.
All the pieces now trusted one recreation: the catch-up recreation in opposition to Dopie, final Sunday. A win over the crew from Delft can be sufficient to nonetheless preserve their place. The crew felt the strain in each fiber, says Rosenthal. However we performed effectively. Within the first couple of minutes we had some probabilities straight away. And within the second half … effectively, then we actually virtually solely stood of their half.’
9 penalty corners Rijswijk scored. Likelihood after likelihood was created. It appeared solely a matter of time earlier than the objective would fall, however luck let the crew down. At a rating of 0-0, a couple of minutes earlier than time, Rijswijk determined to alter their goalkeeper. A final try and make the not possible nonetheless doable. However all hope was dashed. Dopie struck mercilessly from the counter: 1-0. And so the curtain fell as soon as once more.
Being relegated twice in three weeks actually does one thing to you. It introduced us nearer collectively. Rijswijk participant Jessey Rosenthal
Which relegation damage essentially the most? The second, Rosenthal says firmly, “It’s like failing your re-exam. The primary time you’re balking, however you could have one other retake. So that you maintain out hope. However then if you fail once more, it hits you further exhausting. Then you understand: it’s completed.
In sports activities phrases, the relegation was a bitter capsule. However socially it additionally introduced one thing lovely. One thing you can not specific in factors. Rosenthal: ‘We had been already a decent group, as a result of most of us have been enjoying collectively for years. We’re greater than teammates; we’re actually associates. However what we’ve gone via collectively now has solely made our bond stronger. It touched me deeply that after the final recreation we had been mendacity defeated on the ground. Our tears spoke volumes. Being relegated twice in three weeks actually does one thing to you. It introduced us nearer collectively.’
It was not the primary time the crew felt the cruel ache of relegation. Two years in the past it additionally relegated, from the First Division. The place will this finish? Rosenthal: “We’ll come again stronger. I do know that for positive. I’m satisfied that subsequent season we are going to end at the very least within the high three.’ That’s reassuring. They’ve had their share of relegations by now.
