Almere hand leaders Heracles first defeat; Kevin van Veen (35) scores wonder goal
Heracles Almelo suffered their first defeat of the season on Friday night. After six straight wins, the Keuken Kampioen Divisie leaders lost 1-0 at runners-up Almere City. FC Volendam's stuttering run also continued as they suffered a first-ever defeat against Jong AZ, 4-1. Kevin van Veen, meanwhile, scored a stunning goal for FC Eindhoven in a 3-1 win over FC Emmen.
Almere City - Heracles Almelo 1-0
Heracles created the better chances in the first half, but Max Hauswirth, Jean-Paul N'Djoli and Tristan van Gilst all failed to beat goalkeeper Wessel Speel. The visitors still carried a threat after the break and Van Gilst spurned a huge chance to open the scoring in the 78th minute when he fired over. Two minutes later, Almere City punished him at the other end. Martin Wasinski reacted to a rebound and lashed home for 1-0.
Jong AZ - FC Volendam 4-1
Jong AZ claimed their first-ever win over provincial rivals FC Volendam on Friday. Hessel de Wit opened the scoring, then Jerolldino Bergraaf doubled the lead before half-time. After the break the home side stayed on top and Bendeguz Kovacs made it 3-0. Julian Oerip then added a fourth. Frederik Ihler pulled one back for Volendam from a Henk Veerman assist.
FC Den Bosch - Helmond Sport 2-1
Silvan Bröker put the hosts ahead after just four minutes, before Jeffry Fortes' own goal levelled it up. Soon after that, Brian Koglin turned the ball into his own net and Den Bosch regained the lead. Helmond Sport pushed hard for 2-2 after the break, but clear-cut chances stayed scarce. Den Bosch also came within inches of 3-1 when they hit the inside of both posts. Helmond Sport still had late openings, but they could not find the equaliser.
FC Eindhoven - FC Emmen 3-1
Rayan Buifrahi opened the scoring in the first half by rounding the onrushing goalkeeper and sliding into an empty net. Jack Cooper-Love equalised after the break, but not long after that Joshua Mukeh was sent off for handball to stop a breakaway. Kevin van Veen then curled the resulting free-kick brilliantly into the top corner to restore Eindhoven's lead. With the extra man, the home side stood firm against the visitors' pressure. Antonio Bazdaric wrapped it up at 3-1 deep into stoppage time.
Jong Ajax - Roda JC 0-0
Neither side ever really got going between Jong Ajax and Roda JC. In the first half they traded the odd jab, but neither team created a serious chance.
After the break, both sides struck the woodwork. Jano Monserrate hit the post for the Amsterdam side, while Mokrane Bentoumi rattled the underside of the bar for the Limburg side.
RKC Waalwijk - MVV Maastricht 6-1
RKC flew out of the blocks and took the lead after just under 15 minutes through Jordy de Wijs, who headed in a Jochem Nap corner for 1-0. After half an hour, they made it 2-0. Faissal Al Mazyani struck with his right foot and picked out the far corner in style.
Before half-time, the Waalwijk side went 3-0 up and tore MVV apart. Juan Castillo had all the time he needed to shoot and calmly poked the ball past goalkeeper Hugo Wentges.
Four minutes after the restart, RKC had their fourth. Liam van Gelderen headed another inch-perfect corner from Nap into the net, becoming RKC's fourth goalscoring defender of the evening.
Jesse van de Haar then took centre stage. Castillo played the striker in front of goal and he slotted home before sprinting to the stand to celebrate with his father Hans.
Two more goals arrived near the end. Olivier Dumont restored some Limburg pride just before time with a calm finish using the inside of his foot. In stoppage time, Van de Haar scored his second of the evening from the penalty spot to make it 6-1.
TOP Oss - FC Dordrecht 3-0
TOP made a flying start through Franslyn Nsingi, who beat goalkeeper Yannick van Osch with a header. After half an hour, the Brabanders doubled their lead and Nsingi struck again, this time from an Ilounga Pata assist.
Shortly after the break, centre-back Alvaro Henry arrived late with his sliding tackle and saw a straight red card. That gave Dordrecht an opening, but De Schapenkoppen could not find a way back despite having the extra man. Instead, Richard van de Venne converted a stoppage-time penalty to make it 3-0.
Jong FC Utrecht - VVV-Venlo 1-3
VVV-Venlo could hardly have asked for a better start at Sportcomplex Zoudenbalch, going 0-2 up inside 20 minutes through Nassim Ait Mouhou and Tristan Schenkhuizen.
Jamie Schuldes gave Jong Utrecht hope by pulling one back just before half-time. VVV, however, quickly restored order in the second half. Ait Mouhou raced through one-on-one with goalkeeper Kevin Gadellaa and made it 1-3.
