spectacle in Helmond, negative Vitesse record

Like ripe apples in the winter cold, the goals were scored on Friday in the fifteenth round of the first division. The brave spectators along the fields were able to see no fewer than 43 goals. The record in one round of matches was 50 hits in 2006.

Excelsior kept it at 3-0 in the top match against FC Den Bosch and thus remains the leader. Helmond Sport lost second place due to a defeat in a spectacular derby against FC Eindhoven: 3-4.

The Brabanders saw not only De Graafschap, but also FC Volendam and FC Emmen pass in the battle for direct promotion. De Graafschap and Volendam recorded a big victory thanks to their experienced goal getters. Ralf Seuntjens scored a hat-trick against TOP Oss (4-0) before half time, Robert Mühren did the same for FC Volendam against Jong PSV (1-4).

The troubled bottom line Vitesse also failed to win its eighth home game in the first division. In fact, opponent Cambuur had already scored four goals before half time. Ultimately, the Leeuwarders won 0-6 in Arnhem.

Exactly a month ago, FC Den Bosch was still the leader in the first division under coach David Nascimento. The Portuguese coach ignored the management’s wish to develop young players and was given his due after a defeat against small neighbor TOP Oss.

For example, former assistant Ulrich Landvreugd was on the bench during the visit of leader Excelsior. He saw his team start well, but thanks to Arthur Zagré, Noah Najoks and Jacky Donkor it was still a big win for the Kralingers.

The biggest spectacle of the evening came from Helmond, where number two Helmond Sport played the derby against FC Eindhoven. After the break, Helmond Sport made up for a 0-2 and 1-3 deficit.

Two minutes before the end, Evan Rottier gave Eindhoven the prestigious derby victory: 3-4

Vitesse supporters have been living between hope and fear for months. After the license was narrowly secured this summer in the expectation that Guus Franke would take over the club and its debts, the survival of the Arnhem club is once again hanging by a thread.

Investor Franke has disappeared from the scene, but the agreements he made with the largest creditor Coley Parry in a secret ‘side letter’ are again a major source of concern for the licensing committee.

In the meantime, Parry and general manager Edwin Reijntjes blame each other in various podcasts. Before the match against Cambuur Reijntjes stated that he was in discussions with three possible investors.

The hope he hoped to create among the supporters was destroyed in no time against Cambuur. Remco Balk gave the visitors the lead with a backheel and before halftime Cambuur (which had only scored 15 times in 14 previous games) even ran out to 0-4.

Vitesse – which may lose trendsetter Miliano Jonathans to FC Twente during the winter break – also had quite a few chances, but did not get further than post and crossbar. In the final phase, the Arnhem team even scored two goals: 0-6.

It equals the biggest home defeat of the Arnhem team ever. In 1971 they also finished 0-6 in a competition match with Sparta.

Due to the defeat of Helmond Sport, De Graafschap and FC Volendam rose to second and third place. De Graafschap won 4-0 against TOP Oss thanks to a hat trick from Ralf Seuntjens and a goal from Ibrahim El Kadiri.

While Seuntjens needed two penalties for his hat trick, Robert Mühren scored three pinpoint goals within 27 minutes for FC Volendam visiting Jong PSV (4-1). The assist was provided three times by Henk Veerman, who now has to tolerate his attack buddy Mühren at the top of the top scorers list.