The second week of the Eerste Divisie is in the books and a total of FORTY SEVEN goals were scored in one of the most entertaining divisions in the world. Once again Jean‑Paul N’Djoli stole the headlines scoring another two goals, MVV win again while TOP Oss still wait for their first points writes Will Burns.
I have attached highlights from the clubs’ official or ESPN.nl’s YouTube channel where available so you can watch while you read along.
FRIDAY 14TH AUGUST 2026
ALMERE CITY 3-1 JONG PSV
Almere City flew out of the blocks against Jong PSV, taking the lead after just two minutes when Byron Burgering punished a mistake from goalkeeper Khadim Ngom. Although Fabio Kluit soon equalised for his second goal of the season, although Almere created the better chances and regained control. Burgering turned provider after the break, delivering a sharp cross that left-winger Emmanuel Poku finished for 2–1.
Jong PSV pushed for a response but couldn’t break through, and Almere sealed the win deep into stoppage time. Substitute Ferdy Druijf rose highest in the 94th minute to head in the decisive 3–1, capping a standout performance from Man of the Match Byron Burgering, who scored and assisted to secure the points.
FC EINDHOVEN 2-3 MVV MAASTRICHT
FC Eindhoven took the lead after 15 minutes when Milan Hofland, son of former PSV defender Kevin, accidentally put the ball into his own net. Just before half‑time, MVV’s Stan van Dessel equalised from the penalty spot. After the break, Mika de Jonge tapped in a Guus Beaumont cross to make it 2–1, and MVV looked beaten. But the Limburg side produced a stunning turnaround in stoppage time. Belgian midfielder Olivier Dumont, a summer signing from RWDM Brussles, struck in the 90th minute, and substitute Jaël Pawirodihardjo completed the comeback three minutes later, sealing a dramatic 2–3 win.
HERACLES 3-2 FC DEN BOSCH
Boy oh boy, Heracles are going to be the must see team in this division. After a seven goal thriller last week where they emerged 4-3 winners away to VVV Venlo, they defeated Den Bosch 3-2 in their first home game of the season but they had to wait until the closing stages to secure the win.
Once again, French striker Jean‑Paul N’Djoli, a summer signing from Swiss club FC Wil, stole the show, like last week, notching twice. He now moves onto four goals in two matches. Den Bosch started brightly, but Heracles gradually took control and went ahead just before half‑time when N’Djoli tapped in for 1–0. Goalkeeper Pepijn van de Merbel kept Den Bosch alive with several strong saves, plus help from the crossbar, until Sebastian Karlsson Grach levelled in the 62nd minute from a pass by substitute Sheddy Barglan.
Twelve minutes later, N’Djoli restored Heracles’ lead with a header that took a slight deflection. Karlsson Grach then appeared to rescue a point with a late 2–2, but Heracles struck back almost immediately. In the 89th minute, Tristan van Gilst pounced on a defensive mishap and sealed a 3–2 win for the Almelo side.
Coach Vincent Heilmann was pleased with the win: “The fans had a great night. This fits what we stand for: hardcore attacking football. Sometimes it goes wrong, sometimes it goes right. ‘Welcome to the Keuken Kampioen Divisie,’ I told the boys last week.”
He also hinted at a possible new strike partnership now that Kulenovic is available again with N’Djoli. “I don’t rule out them playing together. You see them high‑fiving when one comes off for the other. It’s not about outdoing your teammate,” Heilmann concluded.
NAC BREDA 0-2 VVV VENLO
The Rat Verlegh Stadion was filled with emotion on Friday night. NAC may have lost to VVV-Venlo, but the evening will be remembered most for the touching tribute to the recently passed Bob Maaskant and the heartfelt support shown to Mats Seuntjens and his partner Elba. Seuntjens, who tragically lost his newborn daughter recently, was listed as a substitute. NAC’s start was disastrous as after just four minutes, VVV winger Edhy Zuliani cut inside and curled a superb shot into the net. Early in the second half, the Algerian struck again, deepening the frustration at Rat Verlegh Stadium.
The discontenting murmurs from the stands soon gave way to a touching show of support for Seuntjens on 55 minutes when he replaced Raul Paula. However, Breda were unable to claw back a goal or two despite taking 23 shots with 5 on target and settled for the 2-0 defeat. Venlo only took 6 shots, 4 on target while scoring the two goals.
After the match, the NAC supporters delivered a deeply moving tribute to Seuntjens and Elba. Fans held up lights, sang to the couple for several minutes and raised a banner that translated to: “Heaven has gained another little star.”
RODA JC 2-1 HELMOND SPORT
Roda JC earned their first win of the season against Helmond Sport, though it didn’t look that way after half an hour when Koen Jansen accidentally turned the ball into his own net. The response was quick: five minutes later Mitchel Paulissen delivered a corner and Marco Tol headed in the equaliser, bringing the home side level.
Early in the second half, Lucas Beerten completed the turnaround by tapping in at the far post from another corner, securing a 2–1 victory. Roda JC were the better team throughout, and Beerten’s goal ensured the points stayed in Kerkrade despite Helmond Sport’s early advantage.
RKC WAALWIJK 2-2 FC DORDRECHT
RKC had started the season with a point at Vitesse and faced FC Dordrecht on Friday evening. The visitors took an early lead through Dario Sits, but Keyan Varela made it 1–1 shortly after the break when his shot slipped through goalkeeper Calvin Raatsie’s hands. In the 73rd minute, Nicolás Rossi restored Dordrecht’s advantage with an effort that deflected off substitute Sven van der Plas.
RKC pushed late on without creating much, yet in the first minute of stoppage time debutant Haye van Gemert still found the net, earning a 2–2 draw. Both assists for Dordrecht came from Feyenoord loanee Ayoub Ouarghi. team had to return to Volendam without any points.
SATURDAY 15TH AUGUST 2026
FC VOLENDAM 3-0 TOP OSS
Despite ending up winning 3-0, in the first half, Volendam didn’t look on course for the result, as TOP Oss did inititally create the better chances. Richard van der Venne and Mauresmo Hinoke both failed to beat Volendam stopper Roy Steur, then Volendam struck home with their first real opportunity.
Nordin Bukala’s low driving shot from outside the area finding the net with a bit of luck (deflection) to take the lead. Moments later, Deron Payne’s evening was over after he took heavy challenges from Jafar Bynoe and Van der Venne, who were both booked, and Trindad and Tobago international had to be substituted. That alone was not cause for panic, but coach Erwin van de Looi had more problems to solve when Mawouna Amevor went off later in the half and Mike Kleijn was withdrawn at the break.
Despite finishing the match with three substitute defenders, Volendam held firm. TOP Oss were far less convincing after half‑time, and the home side took control. Twenty minutes from the end, Henk Veerman headed the ball down for substitute Alex Plat, not known for his goal scoring prowess, calmly made it 2–0. Plat then wrapped up the afternoon with a tidy finish from a pinpoint Nick Doodeman cross, sealing a 3–0 victory for the men in Orange.
MONDAY 17TH AUGUST 2026
DE GRAAFSCHAP 2-5 JONG AZ
Jong AZ picked up its first win of the season with an impressive 5–2 victory over De Graafschap. The Alkmaar reserves proved too strong in a lively contest at De Vijverberg, pulling away after the break for a comfortable three points.
AZ’s head coach Frank Peereboom made two changes from the opening‑day defeat to FC Eindhoven, bringing in Andrea Natali and Matěj Šín for Sem van Duijn and Julian Sijbrands. De Graafschap started brightly, with Rowan Besselink hitting both the bar and post, but Jong AZ struck first when Julian Oerip capitalised on a defensive mistake to make it 1–0.
After several missed chances, De Graafschap equalised through Donny Warmerdam’s long‑range effort. Ten minutes into the second half, Jong AZ regained control when Bendeguz Kovács converted a penalty, and Rio Robbemond soon added a clever free‑kick for 3–1. Van Zijl pulled one back late on, but Ayoub Oufkir sealed the win with two goals in the closing stages, completing a dominant 5–2 performance.
JONG AJAX 4-6 FC EMMEN
FC Emmen moved to the top of the Keuken Kampioen Divisie after winning a wild ten-goal thriller against Jong Ajax at De Toekomst. The first half was chaotic and ended 3-3. Diego Pugno put Jong Ajax ahead inside the first minute, but Freddy Quispel equalised almost immediately. Jong Ajax went 3–1 up through Emre Ünüvar and Pugno, only for summer signing from Burton Albion, Jack Cooper‑Love to reply with a penalty and Nelson Amadin to drag Emmen level again in first-half stoppage time.
In the second half, Quispel headed home to gain the lead and Cooper‑Love added another to stretch the lead just after the hour mark. Ajax’s Ünüvar scored his second with a long‑range effort, but Cooper‑Love finished the job late on, completing his hat‑trick and sealing the 6-4 win.
JONG FC UTRECHT 1-3 VITESSE ARNHEM
Vitesse claimed a win away in Utrecht after Naoufal Bannis put them in front after half an hour, but Emmanuel Chigozie Owen levelled just before the break.
The match did take a long time to come to life after Vitesse stopper Maximilian Brüll made two important saves early on. Around half an hour in, Vitesse struck with their first real attack. Filipe de Carvalho’s low cross found Bannis to score. Ten minutes later, De Carvalho missed a big chance to double the lead, and Jong Utrecht punished it almost immediately when Emmanuel Chigozie Owen, a summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen, fired home the equaliser.
Early in the second half, Ayman Sellouf put Vitesse back in front after a low cross from Nathan Markelo. Pontus Dahbo, signed earlier this week from BK Hacken in Sweden, was brought on and impressed with several lively actions.
Bannis then made it 1–3 with a smart header from Marco Schikora’s pass, effectively deciding the match. Utrecht’s frustration boiled over when Noa Dundas punched Schikora and was sent off, leaving Vitesse with a man advantage for the final fifteen minutes. In the 89th minute, Vitesse won a penalty and veteran left-back Alexander Büttner stepped up but missed.
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