Heracles just keep on winning… Helmond Sport are still winning… FC Eindhoven have started winning… and De Graafschap have finally won. Week Six Report of the Eerste Divisie is here 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 11TH SEPTEMBER 2026
FC EINDHOVEN 2-1 FC DORDRECHT
FC Eindhoven claimed their first home win of the season with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over FC Dordrecht. The visitors took the lead through Martin Vetkal, but the hosts were back on level terms before half-time when Hugo Deenen’s cross was turned into his own net by a Dordrecht centre-back Jaden Pinas.
The home side struggled to create clear chances despite enjoying plenty of possession. However, they found the breakthrough just after the hour mark when right-back Owen Renfrum powered home a header from Guus Beaumont’s free-kick to put Eindhoven ahead.
Dordrecht’s hopes of a comeback were reduced when Björn Hardley was sent off after just being on the pitch for six minutes. However, the visitors still came close to equalising and Eindhoven’s stopper Jort Borgmans preserved all three points with a superb last-minute save. This ensured Eindhoven celebrated their second win of the season and their first at the Jan Louwers Stadion.
FC EMMEN 1-2 DE GRAAFSCHAP
De Graafschap recorded their first victory of the season on Friday night with a 2-1 win away at FC Emmen. The visitors made a perfect start when Julian Kania finished off a strong run from Toivo Mero after just seven minutes. Emmen responded before the break through former De Graafschap forward Jack Cooper-Love, leaving the score level at 1-1 at half-time.
The second half saw De Graafschap battle hard to stay in the contest. Goalkeeper Ties Wieggers played a key role with several important saves, while the crossbar also came to the visitors’ rescue on two occasions.
The winning goal arrived through Donny Warmerdam, who found himself unmarked in front of goal and calmly beat goalkeeper Sam Karssies. His finish secured De Graafschap’s first three points of the campaign and a valuable away victory in Emmen.
HELMOND SPORT 3-1 JONG PSV
Helmond Sport continued their strong form with a 3-1 home victory over Jong PSV, securing a second consecutive win. Livio Cicero opened the scoring after ten minutes, but the visitors responded midway through the first half through Kyano Penso to leave the game level at 1-1 at the break.
The hosts looked the more dangerous side after half-time and gradually increased the pressure. Despite a few chances at both ends, the match remained finely balanced heading into the closing stages.
Helmond Sport then struck twice in quick succession to seal the points. Joep van der Sluijs restored the lead with a composed finish in the 76th minute, before Tarik Essakkati added a third moments later after being set up by Cicero. The 3-1 victory ensured Helmond Sport celebrated back-to-back league wins.
HERACLES ALMELO 3-2 JONG AZ
It sure feels like Groundhog Day as Heracles maintained their perfect start to the season, with a hard-earned 3-2 victory over Jong AZ. The result now extended their winning streak to six matches. Sem Scheperman gave the hosts an early lead, but the visitors responded strongly and turned the game around before half-time through goals from Hessel de Wit and Tycho de Wit.
Backed by a lively home crowd, Heracles raised the intensity after the break and quickly found an equaliser. Jean-Paul N’Djoli brilliantly flicked home Max Hauswirth’s cross, before Scheperman struck again shortly afterwards. Set up by substitute Thomas Bruns, the midfielder netted his second goal of the evening to restore Heracles’ advantage.
The hosts managed the closing stages well and never looked seriously troubled after making defensive adjustments. Head coach Vincent Heilmann praised his side’s response after falling behind for the first time this season, highlighting their improved pressing and determination in the second half. The victory not only preserved Heracles’ 100 per cent record but also strengthened their position as several promotion rivals dropped points.
JONG AJAX 0-2 RKC WAALWIJK
RKC Waalwijk claimed an impressive 2-0 away win over Jong Ajax. The visitors started brightly and created several chances in the first half, but were unable to find a way past goalkeeper Joeri Heerkens. Jong Ajax also threatened, but RKC keeper Niek Schiks produced a number of important saves to keep the score level at the break.
The second half remained evenly contested, with opportunities at both ends. Jong Ajax came closest when Jano Monserrate struck the post, while Schiks continued to impress with several key interventions to keep RKC in the game. The breakthrough finally arrived in the closing stages when Virgil Misidjan’s free-kick took a deflection and found the net to make it 1-0. Deep into stoppage time, Yoram van der Veen sealed the victory with a composed finish, securing a well-earned 2-0 win for RKC Waalwijk in Amsterdam.
MVV MAASTRICHT 0-4 ALMERE CITY
MVV’s unbeaten start was always going to come to an end at some point, and the 4-0 defeat to Almere City was surely a tough result to take. Even more so as the score line hardly reflected the balance of play, with MVV matching their opponents for long periods and arguably looking the better footballing side for much of the contest.
After surviving several early scares, MVV took control and dominated possession, but the hosts combined well, defended aggressively and regularly put Almere under pressure, but once again struggled to turn promising attacks into clear-cut chances. Olivier Dumont and the tireless Lennerd Daneels came closest, but neither could find the breakthrough.
Almere ultimately showed the clinical edge expected of a promotion challenger. Led by striker Ferdy Druijf, the visitors punished defensive lapses and exploited the space left behind as MVV pushed forward. Three quick goals in the closing stages turned a competitive match into a 4-0 defeat. Despite suffering their first loss of the season, MVV can take plenty of encouragement from both their performance and fighting spirit as attention now turns to the trip to RKC.
NAC BREDA 2-3 JONG FC UTRECHT
A shock in Breda, as NAC dropped points to Jong Utrecht. The Breda side made a poor start and fell behind midway through the first half when Noa Dundas scored for Jong FC Utrecht. Paul Gladon, introduced before the half-hour mark, quickly changed the game. The striker headed in Boyd Lucassen’s cross to level the score before coolly finishing a Soumano assist to give NAC a 2-1 lead before half-time.
The hosts’ advantage disappeared immediately after the break as Dundas headed home his second goal of the evening. Jan Van den Bergh then struck the crossbar from a corner before Emmanuel Owen put Jong FC Utrecht ahead at 3-2. NAC were unable to find a response and slipped to a disappointing home defeat.
VVV VENLO 3-1 TOP OSS
VVV-Venlo continued their strong home form with a 3-1 victory over TOP Oss on Friday evening. The hosts took control in the first half, going 2-0 ahead through an own goal from Delano Vianello and a debut goal for striker Matheos Tsigkas. TOP Oss reduced the deficit before the break through Franslyn Nsingi to make it 2-1 at half-time.
After the restart, VVV remained on top and created the better chances, while goalkeeper Youri Schoonderwaldt was called into action when needed to preserve the lead. The home side continued to push for a third goal and kept TOP Oss under pressure throughout much of the second half.
The decisive moment arrived eleven minutes from time when Mohammed Odriss finished a well-worked move with a composed lob over goalkeeper Mike Havekotte. It was the midfielder’s first goal in professional football and secured a 3-1 win for VVV, who celebrated a third consecutive home victory.
SATURDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER 2026
RODA JC 1-0 VITESSE ARNHEM
Vitesse saw their two-match winning run come to an end on Saturday afternoon as they suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Roda JC. The only goal of the game arrived in the opening stages at Parkstad Limburg Stadium, leaving the visitors with too much to do.
Roda started the brighter of the two sides, winning the physical battles and preventing Vitesse from settling into their usual rhythm. The Arnhem side struggled in possession and created little going forward, while the hosts made their early pressure count with the decisive goal after 12 minutes.
Despite attempting to gain more control after the break, Vitesse rarely threatened an equaliser. New signing Jeredy Hilterman made his debut from the bench, but Rüdiger Rehm’s side could not find a breakthrough and finished a match without scoring for the first time since facing Almere City. The defeat ended a run of back-to-back victories and halted their recent momentum.
SUNDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER 2026
FC VOLENDAM 2-0 FC DEN BOSCH
Volendam claimed a 2-0 home victory over Den Bosch in Sunday’s only game to collect another three points. The visitors hit the post early on, but Volendam gradually took control and created the better chances, with Reuven Niemeijer, Henk Veerman and Nick Doodeman all threatening before the break.
The deadlock was finally broken eight minutes into the second half when captain Henk Veerman produced a stunning overhead kick from a Kayden Wolff cross to give the hosts the lead. The spectacular strike sparked Volendam into life and rewarded their dominance.
Eleven minutes later, Reuven Niemeijer doubled the advantage by converting from close range following a scramble in the penalty area. Den Bosch were unable to respond, allowing Volendam to comfortably see out the match and secure a 2-0 win.
MONDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER 2026
WEEK NINE FIXTURES
JONG PSV 1-1 JONG AZ
Jong PSV had to settle for a point in a 1-1 draw with Jong AZ. The Eindhoven side took the lead in the first half through Austyn Jones and appeared on course for victory after a solid opening 45 minutes.
A notable moment came shortly after the hour mark when 17-year-old striker Mikkel Bro Hansen made his debut. The recent signing from Bodø/Glimt was handed his first minutes for the club, but Jong PSV struggled to maintain their level after the break. Jong AZ grew into the match and were rewarded six minutes from time when Jerroldino Bergraaf scored the equaliser to earn the visitors a share of the spoils.
JONG FC UTRECHT 6-1 JONG AJAX
Jong Ajax suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat away as Jong FC Utrecht picked up their second win of the weekend on Monday evening. The hosts took control before the break through goals from Wessel Kooy, Massien Ghaddari and Emmanuel Chigozie Owen, leaving the Amsterdam side facing a 3-0 deficit at the break.
Coach Carlos García made major changes after the interval, introducing Geronimo Spina and Jano Monserrate, but Jong Utrecht continued to dominate. Bjorn Menzo and Owen extended the lead before substitute Diego Pugno grabbed a late consolation goal for Ajax. Ghaddari added his second of the night to complete the scoring, while goalkeeper Joeri Heerkens was sent off deep into stoppage time as a difficult evening ended in a comprehensive defeat.oven to focus on Friday’s home fixture against FC Dordrecht.
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