SC Heerenveen dropped two points in a 2-2 draw away to Willem II on Sunday. The Frisian side even took a 1-2 lead in the second half but could not hold on for the victory.
This result, reported by NOS Sport, leaves Heerenveen in 11th place in the Eredivisie after four matchdays. The club has five points, from one win, two draws, and one loss, with a recent form of DLDW. Heerenveen has scored five goals and conceded six this season, for a goal difference of minus one. In the title race, the team trails leaders AZ Alkmaar by seven points.
How did the match in Tilburg unfold?
Heerenveen started the away match at the Koning Willem II Stadion solidly and was not troubled before halftime. The real action began after the break. In the 60th minute, Uriël van Aalst opened the scoring for the home side. That lead was short-lived, however. Just three minutes later, Danish midfielder Jacob Trenskow headed in the equalizer for Willem II. The match seemed to be turning, but Heerenveen responded strongly. In the 70th minute, Oliver Braude put the Frisians back in front with a precise finish. It looked enough for the three points, but Willem II struck again late on. In the 82nd minute, Devi Haen found the net to set the final score at 2-2.
What does this result mean for the table?
For Willem II, this was the very first point of the season. Manager John Stegeman confirmed this afterwards: "Willem II has taken a point in the Eredivisie for the first time this season." The Tilburg side now shares the bottom places with ADO Den Haag and FC Utrecht. For Heerenveen, it's a missed opportunity to climb further away from the mid-table pack. The five points keep the club in the bottom half of the standings for now. You can find the full league table on our standings page.
Who was missing for Heerenveen?
Heerenveen had to play this match without the injured Mats Egbring. His absence in defence was felt, especially in the closing stages when the equalizer was conceded. It remains unclear when the defender will be fit again. For the current injury status of the squad, you can always check our injuries page. The squad's depth will be a key focus in the coming weeks, especially with a view to the upcoming tough home fixture.
What's next for Heerenveen?
Heerenveen's next match is a direct confrontation with the league leader. On Saturday, September 6th, Heerenveen hosts AZ Alkmaar at the Abe Lenstra Stadion. That promises to be a major challenge against the current table-toppers. All data about this and other upcoming matches can be found in our fixtures overview. The squad of manager Kees van Wonderen will need to regroup to put in a strong performance against AZ and take some points.
