Eredivisie Review – 11th & 12th August

After police strikes at the weekend, five games were postponed and rescheduled to be played on the upcoming Tuesday & Wednesday. There were some exciting games with plenty of goals, truly earmarking a great start to the Eredivisie season. Here is your Eredivisie review:

sc Heerenveen 3-1 De Graafschap

It was a very good start for sc Heerenveen who comfortably beat De Graafschap, 3-1. Heerenveen took an early lead through Simon Thern after he capitalised on a defensive error from De Graafschap.

Heerenveen then scored thirteen minutes later through debutant Mitchell te Vrede who converted from close range to give Heerenveen a comfortable 2-0 lead heading into the break.

Simon Thern got his second of the evening nine minutes into the second half with a shot that found it’s way into the bottom corner. De Graafschap were close to grabbing a goal back on a few occasions as Dean Koolhof hit the post for Graafschap.

They did finally pull one back in the 82nd minute through youngster Vincent Vermeij with a headed effort that found the top corner.

ADO Den Haag 2-2 PSV

There’s no better way to start your season then getting a draw against the reigning champions – and, in style! I am sure heading into a game like this, ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Martin Hansen wasn’t expecting to be scoring a last minute equaliser.

It was Adam Maher that gave the current champions the lead in the 23rd minute before a Roland Alberg penalty only two minutes later brought ADO Den Haag level.

Dutch forward, Luuk de Jong gave PSV the lead again midway through the second half and at this point, it was PSV in control of the game but ADO Den Haag had pushed for the majority and were deserving of a point.

A corner in the final minute of the game for ADO Den Haag and goalkeeper, Martin Hansen was told to go forward. The ball was sent into the box and a Zlatan-esque heel flick from Hansen was enough to see the ball fly into the back of the net.

FC Groningen 1-1 FC Twente

Europa League outfit FC Groningen started off their campaign against mid-table rivals FC Twente. It wasn’t the most exciting of games but both teams will probably be pleased with a point especially Twente who were the away side and after a disappointing season in 14/15, they can’t really complain.

It was the away side infact who would take the lead through Renato Tapia who headed in from a tight-angle off a corner.

And a late goal from Michael de Leeuw salvaged a point for Groningen after Danny Hoesen played his fellow team-mate through and it was easy for de Leeuw as he stroked the ball past the FC Twente goalkeeper.

PEC Zwolle 2-2 SC Cambuur Leeuwarden

Two teams that will be hoping to push on this season are PEC Zwolle and SC Cambuur. It was one of the most entertaining games of the week in the Eredivisie and PEC Zwolle will be disappointed with themselves after throwing away a 2-0 lead in poor fashion.

PEC Zwolle took a 1-0 lead through Dirk Marcellis who converted from close range. It was then former Ajax youth forward Sheraldo Becker who made it 2-0 – before half-time – with a wonderful long-range strike from 25 yards out that beat the keeper with ease.

SC Cambuur managed to pull one back in the 70th minute after a scuffed shot from Sander van de Streek found the feet of Erik Bakker who put it into the back of the net from six yards out.

And only seven minutes later SC Cambuur scored again, bringing the game back into their hands. Erik Bakker – who scored the first goal – played a wonderful through-ball to Sjoerd Overgoor who rolled it past the despaired Zwolle keeper and equalised to make it 2-2.

N.E.C 1-0 Excelsior

A rather uneventful game for two relegation rivals in the upcoming season but it was N.E.C who got the three points – a very important three points at that in the relegation six-pointer.

N.E.C started the game off lively and Navarone Foor came close in the 4th minute with a shot that just drifted wide of the mark.

And in the 34th minute, there was more action after a free-kick from N.E.C forward Anthony Limbombe just went over the bar.

After chances galore for N.E.C, they finally scored late on in the game through Navarone Foor with a venomous strike from just outside the box that left Excelsior goalkeeper Filip Kurto with no chance.