Eredivisie

De Graafschap came out on top in the Gelderland match against Vitesse on Sunday afternoon. The De Vijverberg deservedly won thanks to goals from Levi Schoppema, Donny Warmerdam and Ralf Seuntjens. The 3-1 final score meant De Graafschap’s first victory over their provincial rival from Arnhem since 2008.

De Graafschap in the lead

The Super Farmers started the match full of energy and the pace was high. Both teams wanted to play football, but by applying good pressure, De Graafschap was able to force opponent Vitesse to make mistakes. There were not many chances in the first half and so both teams had to make do with some shots from distance. After just over half an hour of playing, that changed. A well-played attack from the left was coolly slotted in by Levi Schoppema on a pass from sagging striker Jesse Van de Haar; 1-0. This was also the halftime score.

Second half full of battle

The battle from the first half continued into the second half. Shortly after halftime, Alexander Büttner committed a hard foul on former teammate Philip Brittijn and that cost him a yellow card. The 20-year-old midfielder from De Graafschap initially seemed to be able to continue, but after a few minutes he had to be substituted. Some time later, the same Büttner committed another foul, this time on Joran Hardeman. Referee Dennis Higler gave him his second yellow card in 5 minutes and sent the captain of the Arnhem team to the dressing room.

Irakli Yegoian achieved another feat for his Vitesse in the 63rd minute. With a beautiful bicycle kick he shot the ball from the edge of the penalty area via the underside of the crossbar; 1-1. The visitors could not enjoy their equalizer for long. Mimoun Mahi, who had just come on, sent away teammate Van de Haar via the right flank, who provided his second assist of the afternoon. This time, other substitute Donny Warmerdam was the end station of a well-played attack. He was able to make it 2-1 against the ropes.

With 20 minutes of playing time remaining, it was De Graafschap who emphatically looked for the 3-1. Shortly after his goal, Warmerdam broke through the Arnhem defense again. He was put down in the penalty area and then referee Higler put the ball on the spot. Ralf Seuntjens stood behind the ball, shot in convincingly and scored his first goal of the season; 3-1.

Vitesse’s 10 could no longer make a fist against the better playing De Graafschap. The 3-1 final score meant De Graafschap’s first victory over their fellow provincials from Arnhem since 2008. Next Friday, the Superboeren will visit FC Den Bosch.

Goalscorers: 1-0 Levi Schoppema (36.), 1-1 Irakli Yegoian (63.), 2-1 Donny Warmerdam (67.), 3-1 Ralf Seuntjens (75.)

Referee: Dennis Higler

Line-up De Graafschap: Smits; Brittijn (53. Warmerdam), Besselink, Hillen, Schoppema; Hardeman (76. Willemsen), Najah (C); Van Der Heide (66. Seuntjens), Van Gilst (66. Mahi), El Kadiri; van de Haar (76. Eduardo).

Vitesse line-up: Bramel; Kreekels, Van Zwam, Cornelisse, Van der Plaat (80. Egbring); Tsingaras (58. Steffen), Büttner; Jonathans, Yegoian, De Regt (46. Macheras); Visser (46. Hoogerwerf)

Yellow cards De Graafschap: Rowan Besselink.

Yellow cards Vitesse: Enzo Cornelisse, Marcus Steffen.

Red cards De Graafschap: –

Rode card speed: Alexander Büttner.

After the match between De Graafschap and Vitesse, we learned that some Vitesse supporters became unwell. These supporters were on their way back from Doetinchem.

First of all, De Graafschap hopes that these people feel better again and we have heard from Vitesse that everyone is back home. For the time being, there have been no reports of unwell among De Graafschap supporters.

Before the start of the match, various fireworks were found by stewards and security guards during the search. However, during the match, smoke pots were lit from both the home stands and the away section. We strictly disapprove of the lighting of fireworks and we will make every effort to identify those directly involved. The competition will be evaluated in the coming days and further consultations will take place with the parties involved.

When the Vitesse supporter buses depart, the standard outflow procedure was followed whereby supporters are kept at a distance from each other when the away fans leave.

De Graafschap is, at least for a few days, the leader of the Keuken Kampioen Divisie. The Achterhoekse Trots is there partly because of the 2-0 victory over FC Eindhoven on Friday evening.

Superior party from the start

De Graafschap showed themselves to be the superior team from the start of the match on Friday evening. With good football at times, they put the Eindhoven guests against the wall. In addition to good football, the Achterhoek Pride also showed fierceness and perseverance. After a few dangerous situations in front of the goal of the guests from the City of Light, it took until the 24th minute before Tristan van Gilst opened the score. Van Gilst, playing as a midfielder, did so in a wonderful way. After cutting out his man, he shot beautifully with his right foot from over 20 meters.

After that, De Graafschap dropped back a bit, but that only led to one dangerous moment. Goalkeeper Joshua Smits came out of his goal and tried to shoot the ball hard. However, he hit central defender Rowan Besselink hard and saw the ball just go wide of his own goal. FC Eindhoven didn’t get much further.

Same old cloth, same old suit

In the second half it was actually a similar story. De Graafschap was the superior team and had the most chances, FC Eindhoven occasionally came out dangerously. Nevertheless, De Graafschap remained the better team and again showed beautiful football at times. However, it took until the 84th minute before the Achterhoek Pride expressed this in the score. Then it was substitute Mimoun Mahi who, with a perfect assist, enabled another substitute, Philip Brittijn, to head the 2-0 into the net.

The victory puts De Graafschap, for the time being, at the top of the Kitchen Champion Division. Next Friday, De Graafschap will defend that position when Helmond Sport visits De Vijverberg.

De Graafschap – FC Eindhoven: 2-0

Goalscorers: 1-0 Tristan van Gilst (24th), 2-0 Philip Brittijn (84th).

Referee: Martin van den Kerkhof | Spectators: 10.063

Line-up De Graafschap: Smits; Fortes (C), Besselink, Hillen, Schoppema; Warmerdam, Van Gilst (62. Mahi), Najah (62. Brittijn);

FC Eindhoven line-up: Brondeel; Tyrese Simons, Limouri (83. Verheij), Seedorf, Douglas; Dorenbosch, Van Schuppen, Sven Simons (70. El Bouchataoui);

Yellow cards De Graafschap: van Gilst, Warmerdam

Yellow cards FC Eindhoven: Douglas

Red cards De Graafschap: –

Red cards FC Eindhoven: –

De Graafschap emerged as deserved winners from the duel with Roda JC in Kerkrade on Sunday evening. In the Parkstad Limburg Stadium, they won 1-4 against the Koempels.

De Graafschap in the lead

After a hesitant and messy start to the match, De Superboeren took the lead in the first half for the third time this season. Ibrahim El Kadiri was able to become dangerous on the left flank a few times. This also happened in the 18th minute of the match. The 22-year-old winger made a good move and gave a perfect cross to striker Jesse Van de Haar who then headed it nicely into the far corner.

After the 0-1 the home team gave the initiative to De Graafschap. The Superboeren tried to become dangerous via long balls from the back. Due to some clumsiness in the build-up of the Achterhoekers Roda JC was able to get back into the game, somewhat against the odds. Debutant under the bar Joshua Smits wanted to play Donny Warmerdam in the defense. The ball was won and Thibo Baeten was able to be put in position; 1-1 at half-time.

Decision from the spot

The first twenty minutes of the second half were not of high quality. The substitutes, including Philip Brittijn and Mimoun Mahi, then brought the necessary fresh energy into the match. Brittijn provided more movement and dynamism in the game, and Mahi immediately showed his class with a shot on the crossbar from about 30 meters away.

After a well-organized attack, De Graafschap took a 1-2 lead in the 68th minute of the match. Jeffry Fortes himself set up the attack from his own half. Through good combination play between Brittijn and Mahi, the ball ended up with the same Fortes who was then able to pass it to Van Gilst. Tristan turned well away from his opponent and shot his second goal of the season.

After De Graafschap took the lead again in the match, Roda JC had to take more risks to still have a chance of a good result at home. This created large spaces behind their defense, which allowed the Superboeren to create chances.

Fifteen minutes before the end, Ibrahim El Kadiri should have scored on an assist from Philip Brittijn. He hit the outside of the post. Shortly afterwards, Ralf Seuntjens, who had come on for goal scorer Jesse Van De Haar, was taken down in the penalty area. Referee Van Der Laan pointed decisively to the spot. Captain Fortes kept his cool and convincingly shot the 1-3 in from 11 metres. The match was decided.

Ibrahim El Kadiri determined the final score with a goal reminiscent of his strike against FC Volendam in the first match of this season. From the left side of the field he cut inside and then stood on the edge of the penalty area for a shot. With his right leg he curled the ball beautifully into the far corner.

With this deserved 1-4 victory, De Graafschap books the biggest victory in Kerkrade in 70 years. De Graafschap will face FC Eindhoven on Friday at their own De Vijverberg.

Roda JC Kerkrade – De Graafschap: xx-xx

Goalscorers: 0-1 Jesse Van De Haar (18th), 1-1 Thibo Baeten (36th), 1-2 Tristan Van Gilst (68th), 1-3 Jeffry Fortes (83rd), 1-4 Ibrahim El Kadiri (90+2).

Line-up Roda JC Kerkrade: Bucker; Kruiver, Koglin (46. Jansen), Oude Kotte, Muller; Sejdiu (46. Griffith), Kongolo (76. Bangura), Beerten (76. Dzepar), Leijten (62. Krawczyk); Baeten, Peña Zauner.

De Graafschap’s line-up: Smits; Fortes (C), Hillen, Besselink, Schoppema (57. Symons); Warmerdam, Van Gilst (70. Eduardo), Najah (46. Brittijn);

Yellow cards Roda JC Kerkrade: –

Yellow cards De Graafschap: Najah, Schoppema, Besselink, Hillen.

Red cards Roda JC Kerkrade: –

Red cards De Graafschap: –