In a direct confrontation with FC Volendam, FC Emmen not only took the third period title, but also took the lead of the Kitchen Champion Division. The Drenthe won 4-1 after a dazzling football show, especially in the first half.
Because of that victory, FC Emmen is in first place in the Kitchen Champion Division for the first time this season. The Drenthe club has 64 points from 30 matches. FC Volendam follows with 63 points. In 3rd place is Excelsior with 58 points and 4th place follows FC Eindhoven with 57 points.
The team of trainer Dick Lukkien showed from the start that there was nothing to be gained in De Oude Meerdijk. When the first goal fell, the turnips were done for the guests. That goal was already scored after fifteen minutes.
Standing ovation
Volendam player Josh Flint wanted to let the ball pass over the back line, but Reda Kharchouch thought otherwise. The striker played a strong first half and served Mendes in the sixteen. The number seven of FC Emmen turned around and shot in: 1-0.
Then the strongest phase of the Drenthe had yet to start, because during the ten minutes before the break, the more than 8,000 seats did not feel like a butt. In that period FC Emmen scored no fewer than three times, breaking the Volendammer resistance, which already turned out to be fragile.
In the 37th minute, Kharchouch also put himself on the scoresheet on a pass from Jasin-Amin Assehnoun and three minutes later Miguel Araujo headed a free ball from the same Assehnoun hard against the ropes. Two minutes later the party was complete. Volendam was completely destroyed by a splitting pass, behind the defense towards Mendes. Mendes’ cross reached Kharchouch who made his second goal of the evening: 4-0.
Consolidate
In the second half it was mainly a matter of playing out for FC Emmen, consolidating the lead, hoping that FC Eindhoven would lose points against ADO Den Haag and of course come out of their own battle unscathed. Almost everything worked out, but the guests still scored a nice goal of honour. Daryl van Mieghem hit the mark, although that did not compensate the guests at all, who have lost the lead for months.