FOOTBALL – FC Emmen also lost against Willem II. The Tilburgers were too strong with 0-3 in the Oude Meerdijk. Coach Menno van Dam’s team hardly created any chances and saw the guests settle efficiently. The first victory of 2026 is still pending.
Before the start of the match, supporters’ association Brigata Fanatico celebrated its tenth anniversary with a fireworks show and the match ball was shot into the field from a carbide canister. Supporters in the stadium could not have guessed at the time that that was the only fireworks they would see.
Willem II started dominantly and had opportunities early on. In the 20th minute, Devin Haen had a free header, but his header went wide. Five minutes later, goalkeeper Luca Unbehaun made a good save from Behounek’s shot in the short corner.
The opening goal came in the 36th minute. Nick Doodeman was found and easily scored: 0-1. FC Emmen immediately tried to give something back. Gerezgiher was sent away by Unbehaun, but found the side netting.
After the break, Willem II doubled the lead. FC Emmen claimed a penalty after Verheijdt’s handball, but referee Van den Kerkhof waved it away. Immediately afterwards, Haen slipped through and shot the ball in at the other end, doubling the guests’ lead.
Trainer Van Dam intervened with substitutions. Nunumete and Evina came in for Kongolo and Sadiku, but those substitutions yielded little. FC Emmen hardly created any chances, Gerezgiher had the best opportunity, but missed.
In the 77th minute, Mounir el Allouchi hit the post. A minute later it happened again. Doodeman came through again on the right and passed wide to Uriël van Aalst, who shot in: 0-3.
Shortly afterwards, Haen seemed to make it 0-4, but he was whistled back for offside. FC Emmen ended the match with zero shots between the posts.
Due to the defeat, FC Emmen drops to seventeenth place, the gap with bottom Jong Ajax is four points. A stirring flute concert concluded the evening. FC Emmen will play at home again on Monday, against Jong FC Utrecht.
