FOOTBALL – FC Emmen ends 2025 with a defeat. In a foggy Yanmar Stadium, Almere City FC was too strong for coach Menno van Dam’s team 4-2. This means that the Drenthe team will enter the winter break in tenth place.
The home team started sharply and had opportunities early on. In the 9th minute, Julian Rijkhoff shot, with his attempt going towards goalkeeper Luca Unbehaun after a touch. The goalkeeper tapped the ball over. Moments later, Unbehaun made another good save when Ferdy Druijf appeared free in front of him.
The first goal came in the 15th minute. Ajax mercenary Julian Rijkhoff received the ball on the edge of the sixteen and scored into the corner: 1-0. FC Emmen tried to hit back. Romano Postema managed to score after a cross from Lukas Larsen, but he was just offside.
FC Emmen coach Menno van Dam intervened and substituted Franck Evina before half-time, but Geypens was barely inside the lines when Almere struck again. An error in the build-up at FC Emmen was punished by Milan de Haan: 2-0. With this score, both teams went to tea.
Immediately after the break, Almere increased its lead. Rijkhoff was given plenty of space on the edge of the sixteen and calmly pushed the ball into the far corner. Two FC Emmen defenders watched as the Almere City striker scored his second goal and put the 3-0 on the scoreboard.
FC Emmen came back into the match in the 60th minute. After mistakes in Almere’s build-up, Postema put the ball on Jalen Hawkins’ head: 3-1. The hope of a comeback was back in the Almere stadium.
The game was stopped in the 73rd minute because Almere supporters lit torches in the fanatic box. The fans of the home team celebrated their twentieth anniversary in this match. There were fireworks before the match, but also during the match. A reason for referee Blank to wait until all the red fireworks had gone out.
Shortly after the restart, Vianello made it 4-1 with a soft shot into the far corner. Goalkeeper Unbehaun, who played a good game despite conceding four goals, was unable to turn the ball.
Deep into the injury time, Postema scored the 4-2, his sixteenth goal of the season in the Kitchen Champion Division. A goal for the statistics, because he is the top scorer in the competition. Due to the defeat, FC Emmen remains in tenth place. The next match is on January 9 at home against the number two in the rankings: SC Cambuur.