Vitesse are on the verge of qualifying for football in Europe next season. The Arnhem club beat RKC by three goals to one in Waalwijk on Thursday.

RKC couldn't find a way through Vitesse's stronge defence and Tomas Kalás put the visitors in the lead halfway through the first half. RKC equalised 10 minutes into the second half through a header from Krisztián Németh; he'd spent the first half on the bench and had only been on the field for a few minutes when he knocked Furkan Alakmak's fine cross into the net.

RKC had an excellent chance to go one up a few minutes later but outstanding goalkeeping by Piet Velthuizen kept the score at 1-1.

Sloppy defending allowed Wilfried Bony to put Vitesse ahead in the 69th minute and the Ivory Coast international scored his second of the match in the 81st minute.

The second leg is scheduled for Sunday and the winner will go to the second qualifying round of the Europa league.
 

(jric)
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