Willem II lost 2-1 against FC Dordrecht on Wednesday evening, but given the number of opportunities in the second half, the defeat was unnecessary. Before the break, the Tilburgers played far below par and, according to trainer Kristof Aelbrecht and captain Erik Schouten, the dip came through a rather remarkable corner. “From that moment on it became very restless on our side.”
After about 5 minutes of play, an attacking Willem II got a corner, but he failed and then left back Rob Nizet played the ball too short. Goalkeeper Thomas Didillon-Hödl prevented a goal. “From our own corner we gave a 1 on 1 chance away, from that moment it was no longer with us,” says captain Erik Schouten. “Then you will come up with 2-0 behind FC Dordrecht. Fortunately that Ringo Meerveld made it 2-1 with a great action.”
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Trainer Kristof Aelbrecht also thought that the corner was the start of a dramatic first half. “We started so well and gave it away for ourselves. It became waiting with us. I made the players very clear in the break that this is not the way you can play a match. Yes, I was angry for my do.”
How different was the second half in which Willem II had several big opportunities on the equalizer. Yet the 2-2 did not want to fall. Schouten: “Then you see that we can create many opportunities if we do what we had agreed in advance. The ball must be in it. It was at least a typical night of play-offs, in which it never runs as you expect.”
“We have to and want to achieve a good result for them.”
On Saturday evening, the Tilburgers have to win FC Dordrecht during the return to keep a view of the final of the play-offs. “We have drawn confidence from our second half. In our own stadium we have to start the game as we did in Dordrecht after the break. The support of our supporters was great again, those guests are always there and you know how we performed in 2025. They are so loyal, for them and we want to achieve a good result.”
Trainer Kristof Aelbrecht believes that his team can book the first victory of the year in the King Willem II Stadium. “This defeat is not insurmountable, but of course it is not the result we came for. I saw boys with doubt in the first half, but we cannot afford that. But if you then see their reaction, then this is the way we have to play FC Dordrecht at home. With the fantastic support of our supporters we are full for the victory, we have no other choice.”
