Is this too early? The season kicks off in just four weeks time. Perhaps it is. Perhaps it isn't.

New to the Eredivisie this season, VVV Venlo, who return after just a single season out of the league, having finished top of last year's Eerste Divisie, and second-placed RKC Waalwijk, who came through the promotion/relegation playoffs having beaten De Graafschap.

Relegated from last season's Eredivisie into the Eerste Divisie, De Graafschap and Volendam, both of whom will be looking to get back up with the big boys for next season.

The Eredivisie season itself starts on Friday, July 31, Heerenveen face Roda JC in the first fixture of the season. The Eerste Divisie season starts a week later, as both De Graafschap and Volendam are looking to bounce back to the Eredivisie.

The Hoofdklasse season kicks off on September 5, Rijnsbergse Boys kick off their campaign against TOG Rotterdam, who bounce back to the Hoofdklasse after one season in the Eerste Klasse, and are ten games without defeat.

SDC Putten of H. Saturday B have six wins from their last six games, and are looking to extend that run further into the new season.

Not sure if there's anything else useful to report so far. First match of the season, Heerenveen v. Roda JC, four weeks from today.

The Eredivisie season itself starts on Friday, July 31, Heerenveen face Roda JC in the first fixture of the season. The Eerste Divisie season starts a week later, as both De Graafschap and VVV are looking to bounce back to the Eredivisie.


Should be FC Volendam, of course. ;)

Should be FC Volendam, of course. ;)

That's what I meant. Volendam. I started to write V and I fell asleep on the keys.

Further afield, it appears that the Italian fixtures for the season ahead have not yet been announced. But that's for another thread. Maybe. ;D

NEC face PAOK Saloniki in a friendly match today. Saloniki are also facing Willem II on the 19th.

It's a tad late but here are some results from some club friendlies that I've only just seen for the first time, according to Soccerway:

Saturday

Heerenveen 0 - 1 Olympiakos
HFC Haarlem 0 - 4 AZ
Brøndby 1 - 2 PSV
That's Brøndby's fourth consecutive defeat.
FC Twente 2 - 0 FC Zwolle

Monday

FC Zwolle 0 - 3 Olympiakos

No sign of the NEC result. I will root around.

NEC 1 - 1 PAOK was the final score. NEC's seventh draw in eight matches.

One match tonight, as NAC face Armenian side Gandzasar Kapan, who are struggling this season despite finishing third last season in the Armenian Premier League.

NAC won yesterday's match by an impressive margin of 6 goals to 0, despite leading by just a single goal at half-time.

KRC Genk lost to PSV today by a single goal, possibly scored by Ola Toivonen.

Today's friendly results:


FC Utrecht 1 - 3 Ankaraspor
VVV 2 - 1 TOP/Oss
Sparta Rotterdam 0 - 1 PAOK
FC Eindhoven 0 - 0 RKC
AZ 0 -  1 Hamburger SV

Today, NAC face Gandzasar Kapan in the Europa League.

2 - 0 the final score in that match, goals from Anthony Lurling and Edwin de Graaf.

Today sees the Dutch Super Cup between AZ and Heerenveen. And while I'm thinking about it, the KNVB-Beker first-round matches have been announced.

Hoofdklasse play-off winners WKE face GVVV, while finalists Rijnsbergse Boys face SV Argon. 24 matches in total, and if I remember to do so closer to the time (August 29 is when the matches take place) I will report on them.

The match was won by AZ with a 5 - 1 score.

Today's friendly match:

FC Den Bosch 1 - 2 Bolton Wanderers

As has been posted elsewhere, Sporting Lisbon and FC Twente drew today's Champions League match 0 - 0. Sander Boschker was sent off.

As has been posted elsewhere, Sporting Lisbon and FC Twente drew today's Champions League match 0 - 0. Sander Boschker was sent off.


Return next Tuesday. Winner proceeds to Round Three qualifiers.

Wowser. Season starting already. That crept up on us.

This week, one match on Friday, four matches on Saturday, and four matches on Sunday. Willem II kick off against Vitesse, AZ are away at Heracles, and PSV face VVV.

Today's result:


PSV 1 - 0 Cherno More

The Eerste Divisie season kicks off on August 7. I assume we still have a Periodekampionen situation going on similar to last season, though I will bow to your further knowledge, Henk, if you are aware otherwise. TOP/Oss have been renamed FC Oss at least until the credit crunch sets in around Noord-Brabant, in which case they will presumably rename themselves as Bottom/Oss.

I've had a long day, I'm struggling with the wit here. :D

Today's result:


PSV 1 - 0 Cherno More



The goal was scored in additional time. I haven't seen the game, but apparently I haevn't missed much.

Today's first match of the season!


Heerenveen 0 - 0 Roda JC


Hopefully we will see some goals in the four games we see tomorrow. And hopefully AZ can make a better start to this season than they made to their last! (Though even if they don't, who's to tell what will happen come 34 games time. :D )

In the meantime, Hoofdklasse matches begin on the weekend of September 5 - 6.

Another result from yesterday, a Friendly match:


FC Eindhoven 2 - 2 Bolton Wanderers

Another result from yesterday, a Friendly match:


FC Eindhoven 2 - 2 Bolton Wanderers



A great result for FC Eindhoven, but rather pathetic from a Bolton point of view.

I may well be a very happy chappy by 7:30 this evening. Willem II, if they beat Vitesse, will be at the top of the Eredivisie. Of course, if we lose, we will be at the bottom...

Sparta Rotterdam have recently contracted Tim Bakens. Nothing special about that, at first glance, but...
Bakens previously played for De Graafschap, RKC Waalwijk and FC Volendam. All three teams relegated while Bakens was playing there.


Sparta Roterdam (with Bakens) played FC Twente in their opening match on Saturday, and lost 0 to 2. I'm just saying...

Yesterday's results:


Willem II 3 - 1 Vitesse Arnhem
Heracles 3 - 2 AZ
Sparta 0 - 2 FC Twente
RKC Waalwijk 0 - 1 Utrecht
All that separated the two teams was an unfortunately early goal from Ricky van Wolfswinkel


Today, four more fixtures, as Feijenoord, Ajax, and PSV all attempt to get off to winning starts.

Yesterday's results:


Willem II 3 - 1 Vitesse Arnhem
Heracles 3 - 2 AZ
Sparta 0 - 2 FC Twente
RKC Waalwijk 0 - 1 Utrecht
All that separated the two teams was an unfortunately early goal from Ricky van Wolfswinkel


Today, four more fixtures, as Feijenoord, Ajax, and PSV all attempt to get off to winning starts.


Not only did AZ lose their opening game (just like last season), they also lost two players: both Gill Swerts and Graziano Pellè were sent off with a red card.

Today's results:


ADO Den Haag 1 - 2 NAC
Feijenoord 2 - 0 NEC
Groningen 0 - 2 Ajax
PSV 3 - 3 VVV


And so, after week 1, Sparta, NEC, and Groningen joint-hold bottom slot. Ola Toivonen tops the scoring charts after one week, the only player to score two goals.

Next week, two games on Friday, two games on Saturday, and five games on Sunday.

All ten of our opening Eerste Divisie fixtures take place next Friday.

Tonight, FC Twente take on Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League.

Tonight, FC Twente take on Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League.


Qualifying rounds for Champions League, that it. ;)

Oh dear, oh dear. Twente were leading until the final seconds of the game, and Sporting go and tie level in the last seconds..

1 - 1 is the final score.

Oh dear, oh dear. Twente were leading until the final seconds of the game, and Sporting go and tie level in the last seconds..

1 - 1 is the final score.


Twente had it coming. For the entire second half, Twente did nothing but defend, instead of working on increasing the margin. They really brought it down on themselves - and THAT really pisses me off! >:(

Very interesting, thank you Henk. I hadn't seen any of the game myself, obviously. I assume that's all the football action until Friday.

Very interesting, thank you Henk. I hadn't seen any of the game myself, obviously. I assume that's all the football action until Friday.


As far as Dutch teams are concerned, yes.


Apparently, FC Twente will now be forced to play more qualifying games, but this time for Europa League. Should they win the next double confrontation (against an unknown opponent), they move on to group stage of Europa League. Not quite what they had in mind...

As far as Dutch teams are concerned, yes.

Indeed. 10 Europa League qualifying games today, though, and 34 on Thursday. Lots of action to keep us as entertained as we allow for.

As far as Dutch teams are concerned, yes.


Well, I was wrong. Today sees Cherno More (Bulgaria) v PSV Eindhoven, and NAC Breda v Polonia Warsaw.

Just a reminder of the first leg: both Dutch teams won 1 to 0.


Results of the second leg:
Cherno More Varna - PSV Eindhoven  0 - 1 (aggr. 0 - 2)
NAC Breda - Polonia Warsaw            3 - 1 (aggr. 4 - 1)

Both Dutch teams proceed to Round 3 of Europa League qualifiers. 8)

I saw you were posting here, Henk, so I waited to see what had happened instead of finding out for myself. :D Thanks for the information.

Two Eredivisie fixtures tomorrow, two matches on Saturday, five on Sunday.

Also tomorrow, our first round of Eerste Divisie fixtures.

Hoofdklasse starts on the weekend of September 5–6.

I saw you were posting here, Henk, so I waited to see what had happened instead of finding out for myself. :D Thanks for the information.


You're welcome.

At this point, there are still five Dutch teams competing in Europa League Qualifiers: NAC Breda, PSV Eindhoven, Ajax, sc Heerenveen and FC Twente.
I wasn't aware of this until I was told, but this is the first time in 12 seasons that PSV aren't playing Champions League.

Of course, Dutch champions AZ are playing Champions League.

Twelve seasons? That's an impressive record - of course it does not remain for this season, and thus to match this record once again they will have to go until at least 2023 to do so!

And on a slight tangent - the 1.Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga seasons start today. Can VfL Wolfsburg repeat last year's Bundesliga success, the first in their history? Time will tell.

Tonight's results:

Eredivisie

NEC 4 - 1 Heerenveen
AZ 2 - 0 Sparta

Eerste Divisie

AGOVV Apeldoorn 2 - 0 FC Zwolle
Excelsior 2 - 2 Telstar
FC Eindhoven 4 - 3 MVV
FC Emmen 0 - 4 RBC Roosendaal
Oss 0 - 1 Dordrecht
Volendam 1 - 1 FC Den Bosch
Go Ahead Eagles 2 - 0 Omniworld
Haarlem 1 - 6 Veendam
Cambuur 1 - 1 De Graafschap

Tonight's results:

Eredivisie

NEC 4 - 1 Heerenveen
AZ 2 - 0 Sparta

Eerste Divisie

AGOVV Apeldoorn 2 - 0 FC Zwolle
Excelsior 2 - 2 Telstar
FC Eindhoven 4 - 3 MVV
FC Emmen 0 - 4 RBC Roosendaal
Oss 0 - 1 Dordrecht
Volendam 1 - 1 FC Den Bosch
Go Ahead Eagles 2 - 0 Omniworld
Haarlem 1 - 6 Veendam
Cambuur 1 - 1 De Graafschap



Incredibly, MVV went 0 to 3 up in the first half, but thankfully for Eindhoven the team managed to pull one back on the stroke of halftime. In the second half, the tables were turned.


BTW, you missed one game:
Fortuna Sittard - Helmond Sport 0 - 4

Fortuna Sittard may be still alive, they're not exactly kicking. ::)


And FTR: Top Oss have changed their name to FC Oss. No telling why...

Ah yes, I missed out on one game, sorry about that. And I thought there was something going on with the TOP/Oss, FC Oss saga, but I wasn't sure. ESPN still call them TOP/Oss, that's where I got confused.

Eredivisie fixtures for tonight and tomorrow:

Saturday, August 8:
18:45 CET | Ajax - RKC Waalwijk 
19:45 CET | Roda JC - FC Groningen
 
Sunday, August 9:
12:30 CET | Vitesse - Feyenoord 
12:30 CET | NAC Breda - Heracles Almelo 
14:30 CET | VVV Venlo - ADO Den Haag 
14:30 CET | FC Utrecht - Willem II 
14:30 CET | FC Twente - PSV

So, one game to start in about 35 minutes from now...

Today's Eredivisie results:


Ajax 4 - 1 RKC
Roda 1 - 1 Groningen


Five games tomorrow.

Today's Eredivisie results:


Vitesse 0 - 0 Feijenoord
NAC 0 - 0 Heracles
Twente 1 - 1 PSV
Utrecht 1 - 0 Willem II
VVV 2 - 2 ADO Den Haag
ADO Den Haag had two men sent off in the second half.


And so, after the second round of fixtures, just two teams with 100% records, Ajax and Utrecht. Sparta are the only team left to score a goal in this year's competition.

Nine teams still without a win, they'll be looking to sort that out soon enough.

Next week in the Eredivisie, four matches on Saturday and five matches on Sunday. Ajax face PSV, who are without a win from their first two games.

Next week in the Eerste Divisie, our ten usual Friday matches. Top side BV Veendam face second-from-bottom Fortuna Sittard.

Current topscorers in Eredivisie are Suarez (Ajax) and Honda (VVV Venlo) with 3 goals each.

Suarez of course scoring a genuine hat trick in the Ajax v RKC game.

Six Eerste Divisie players have scored two goals apiece, including Selmo Kurbegovic in FC Eindhoven's mammoth comeback. FC Oss (and, therefore by extension, TOP/Oss), have gone fourteen games without victory.

On a slight tangent, there are a ton of Coppa Italia matches going on over the next few days, by my reckoning there are four Serie C teams left in the competition.

Today's Eerste Divisie results:


BV Veendam 5 - 1 Fortuna Sittard
De Graafschap 3 - 0 FC Eindhoven
FC Den Bosch 2 - 3 Excelsior
FC Dordrecht 1 - 2 AGOVV Apeldoorn
FC Omniworld 2 - 1 Volendam
FC Zwolle 0 - 0 FC Emmen VV
Helmond Sport 2 - 4 SC Cambuur Leeuwarden
MVV Maastricht 0 - 0 HFC Haarlem
RBC Roosendaal 1 - 3 Go Ahead Eagles
SC Stormvogels Telstar 1 - 1 FC Oss


Tomorrow, four Eredivisie games.

Today's Eerste Divisie results:


BV Veendam 5 - 1 Fortuna Sittard
De Graafschap 3 - 0 FC Eindhoven
FC Den Bosch 2 - 3 Excelsior
FC Dordrecht 1 - 2 AGOVV Apeldoorn
FC Omniworld 2 - 1 Volendam
FC Zwolle 0 - 0 FC Emmen VV
Helmond Sport 2 - 4 SC Cambuur Leeuwarden
MVV Maastricht 0 - 0 HFC Haarlem
RBC Roosendaal 1 - 3 Go Ahead Eagles
SC Stormvogels Telstar 1 - 1 FC Oss


Tomorrow, four Eredivisie games.


Only three teams left with full marks out of the first two games. BVV Veendam currently leading the table, with an impressive 11 to 2 goal difference. They must feel like they're dreaming.

One team still without points this competition. It is Fortuna Sittard, the team that nearly wasn't. I'm guessing they will start to improve eventually.


On a sidenote: I've been hearing people (sports commentators) say that relegation from Eerste Divisie will be effective as from this season. But as far as I know, it's not gonna happen until next season. I'm slightly confused now. :-\\

On a sidenote: I've been hearing people (sports commentators) say that relegation from Eerste Divisie will be effective as from this season. But as far as I know, it's not gonna happen until next season. I'm slightly confused now. :-\\

I'm still reading conflicting pieces of information on Wikipedia and so on. I guess I won't know until the end of this season.

Yesterday's results:


Sparta Rotterdam 2 - 1 Willem II
Sadly Eredivisie games don't last for just an hour... someone should tell us that.
ADO den Haag 0 - 1 Twente
RKC Waalwijk 0 - 6 AZ
Two goals from Maarten Martens - formerly of... RKC Waalwijk!
Heerenveen 1 - 0 Vitesse


Five matches today, including two-from-two Ajax against PSV, who have two draws from their first two games. VVV, who are also technically unbeaten, travel to Utrecht, who have been economical, yet efficient, in their two victories thus far, last week's coming against *mumble*.

Two weeks until the KNVB Beker first round. Drachster Boys' last entry into the competition appears to have been all of four years ago, when they failed to make any progress.

WKE kick off their KNVB Beker campaign against GVVV, who finished fourth in last season's Hoofdklasse Saturday B, whereas defeated finalists Rijnsburgse Boys face SV Argon, for whom things could have been quite different had they not gone without a win in their last four Hoofdklasse games last season.

Yesterday's results:

RKC Waalwijk 0 - 6 AZ
Two goals from Maarten Martens - formerly of... RKC Waalwijk


Also two goals by Mounir El Hamdaoui. He and Moussa Dembélé are two key players for AZ, maybe to good for the Dutch competition. Just how long until they are moving on...? :-\\

BTW: the 0 to 6 defeat was the biggest defeat ever for RKC (is what they told me). But I guess this only goes for home defeats in Eredivisie.

Today's results:


PSV 4 - 3 Ajax
PSV take the lead three times in what seems to have been a somewhat epic encounter.
FC Utrecht 2 - 2 VVV
That's three draws from three for VVV.
Roda JC 1 - 0 NEC
And the first win of the season for Roda.
Heracles 0 - 1 Feijenoord
FC Groningen 1 - 2 NAC

Today's results:


PSV 4 - 3 Ajax
PSV take the lead three times in what seems to have been a somewhat epic encounter.
FC Utrecht 2 - 2 VVV
That's three draws from three for VVV.
Roda JC 1 - 0 NEC
And the first win of the season for Roda.
Heracles 0 - 1 Feijenoord
FC Groningen 1 - 2 NAC



Two goals credited to Luis Suarez (although I'm quite sure one of those was in fact an own goal by Ooijer), which means he's now on 5 goals in total.
Only one from Honda (VVV), bringing him to 4.



Yesterday's results:

ADO den Haag 0 - 1 Twente



I forgot to mention that the only goal was scored by Blaise N'Kufo, bringing his total for FC Twente to 104 - a new club record.
I'm somewhat surprised by his inability to speak Dutch, by the way. He's been with Twente for, what? Six seasons now?
Every interview for Dutch television is held in English (which he doesn't speak properly either..).

This week in the Eredivisie, three matches on Saturday, five matches on Sunday. Currently with 0 points from their first three games, RKC will want to pick up their first points of the season this week.

And some more stuff from the Eerste Divisie. With BV Veendam having scored 11 goals in their first two games, they will be looking to keep up their impressive start to the season. Two teams, FC Zwolle and FC Emmen are yet to score a goal thus far.

Wesley Sneijder will no longer play at Real Madrid, according to Spanish media. The Dutchman has yet to find a new club.

Marca reported that the midfielder won't form part of Manuel Pellegrini's plans for the coming season, and isn't even allowed to take part in training.

Real Madrid's preferred option is to sell Sneijder to Italian side Internazionale for a fee of 15 million Euros, but the player himself hasn't agreed terms with the Serie A outfit.

Sneijder is the third Dutchman to be disposed of by Real Madrid this summer. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar joined AC Milan while Rafael van der Vaart is still looking for a new team. Arjen Robben is likely to stay, but the futures of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Royston Drenthe remain doubtful.

Tonight's results:


Bnei Yehuda 0 - 1 PSV
PSV squeak past the Tel Aviv-based team.
NAC 1 - 3 Villarreal
Twente 3 - 1 Karabakh
Ajax 5 - 0 Slovan Bratislava

Wesley Sneijder will no longer play at Real Madrid, according to Spanish media. The Dutchman has yet to find a new club.

Marca reported that the midfielder won't form part of Manuel Pellegrini's plans for the coming season, and isn't even allowed to take part in training.

Real Madrid's preferred option is to sell Sneijder to Italian side Internazionale for a fee of 15 million Euros, but the player himself hasn't agreed terms with the Serie A outfit.

Sneijder is the third Dutchman to be disposed of by Real Madrid this summer. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar joined AC Milan while Rafael van der Vaart is still looking for a new team. Arjen Robben is likely to stay, but the futures of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Royston Drenthe remain doubtful.


I don't feel sorry for any of them. They should've realized it was all too good to be true, but they all just couldn't resist the money.  8-P

Tonight's results:


Bnei Yehuda 0 - 1 PSV
PSV squeak past the Tel Aviv-based team.
NAC 1 - 3 Villarreal
Twente 3 - 1 Karabakh
Ajax 5 - 0 Slovan Bratislava



Like I said elsewhere: four goals by Suarez in the Ajax match. Where will he be playing, come September? :-\\

Today's results:


AGOVV Apeldoorn 0 - 1 RBC Roosendaal
Excelsior Rotterdam 2 - 0 BV Veendam
Dordrecht '90 1 - 0 FC Omniworld
FC Eindhoven 2 - 3 Volendam
FC Emmen VV 0 - 0 FC Den Bosch
Oss 2 - 1 FC Zwolle
Fortuna Sittard 5 - 1 HFC Haarlem
Go Ahead Eagles 1 - 0 De Graafschap
Cambuur Leeuwarden 1 - 1 MVV Maastricht
SC Stormvogels Telstar 1 - 4 Helmond Sport


Ten more games to take place on Monday. Currently at the top of the table, the only team with three wins out of three, Go Ahead Eagles. Only two other teams, Excelsior, and eighth-placed Cambuur, are without a loss from their first three games.

Three Eredivisie matches tomorrow.

Cambuur Leeuwarden 1 - 1 MVV Maastricht


Tonight's live game on SBS 7.

First half was crap, with MVV trying but powerless and Cambuur powerless/clueless and not even trying. Still, Cambuur managed to bag one (a deflected shot that wouldn't have gone anywhere!).
Second have showed an inspired Cambuur who had the better of the game for about 25 minutes, when out of the blue MVV scored the equalizer. After that, the match was more equal, but neither side managed to score.
It's the second draw for Cambuur in two home games - a rather disappointing season so far.

Today's Eredivisie matches:

Vitesse - FC Den Haag        1 - 3
FC Groningen - VVV Venlo  2 - 2 (fourth draw in a row for VVV)
Willem II - Heracles            0 - 1 (sorry, Bobo  :( )

Soccer - Women's European Championship:

In their first ever appearence at a major tournament, the Dutch women's team beat Ukraine 2 to 0 earlier today. :)

Twente 2 - 1 RKC
Ajax 0 - 0 Sparta
Heerenveen 0 - 2 AZ
PSV 3 - 1 NAC
Feijenoord 4 - 0 Roda


Next week, two matches on Friday, three matches on Saturday, and four matches on Sunday. Currently topping the Eredivisie, and without a single goal having been scored against them so far this term, Feijenoord. FC Twnete are behind on goal difference, while AZ, having lost their opening game, are in second place, with three wins from their last three.

Next week in the Eredivisie, two matches on Friday, three matches on Saturday, four matches on Sunday.

And some "midweek" action in the Eerste Divisie, as there is a full compliment of ten fixtures tomorrow. Six teams remain without a win so far this season.

So, Eerste Divisie results. Let's see.


De Graafschap 4 - 0 Oss
FC Den Bosch 1 - 1 FC Eindhoven
FC Emmen VV 0 - 1 Go Ahead Eagles
Volendam 2 - 2 Cambuur Leeuwarden
FC Zwolle 3 - 5 Dordrecht '90
Helmond Sport 3 - 1 Excelsior
HFC Haarlem 1 - 2 AGOVV Apeldoorn
MVV 3 - 1 BV Veendam
RBC Roosendaal 0 - 3 SC Stormvogels Telstar
FC Omniworld 0 - 0 Fortuna Sittard

So, Eerste Divisie results. Let's see.


De Graafschap 4 - 0 Oss
FC Den Bosch 1 - 1 FC Eindhoven
FC Emmen VV 0 - 1 Go Ahead Eagles
Volendam 2 - 2 Cambuur Leeuwarden
FC Zwolle 3 - 5 Dordrecht '90
Helmond Sport 3 - 1 Excelsior
HFC Haarlem 1 - 2 AGOVV Apeldoorn
MVV 3 - 1 BV Veendam
RBC Roosendaal 0 - 3 SC Stormvogels Telstar
FC Omniworld 0 - 0 Fortuna Sittard



Some interesting results there. MVV beating Veendam - that's a surprise.
And Telstar winning against RBC in an away game... I didn't see that one coming either!

I think we need to keep an eye on Telstar for the coming seasons. They've found a rather wealthy sponsor (Tata Steel)...

Emmen are still to score a goal in their first four games.

A ton of KNVB Beker matches on August 29.

Emmen are still to score a goal in their first four games.


I don't think that's possible. They've already played four, haven't they? :-\\ Next chance of a goal is in their fifth game.

I don't think that's possible. They've already played four, haven't they? :-\\ Next chance of a goal is in their fifth game.

I mean, they have failed to. Sorry. Bad phrasing.

Today's results:


Karabakh 0 - 0 Twente
Twente win 3 - 1 on aggregate
Slovan Bratislava 1 - 2 Ajax
Ajax win 1 - 7 on aggregate
Heerenveen 0 - 0 PAOK
PAOK win on away goals?
Villarreal 6 - 1 NAC
Villarreal win 9 - 2 on aggregate


Tomorrow, two Eredivisie games and our usual ten Eerste Divisie games. On Saturday, I hope to update the KNVB-Beker results.

Today's results:


Karabakh 0 - 0 Twente
Twente win 3 - 1 on aggregate
Slovan Bratislava 1 - 2 Ajax
Ajax win 1 - 7 on aggregate
Heerenveen 0 - 0 PAOK
PAOK win on away goals?
Villarreal 6 - 1 NAC
Villarreal win 9 - 2 on aggregate


Tomorrow, two Eredivisie games and our usual ten Eerste Divisie games. On Saturday, I hope to update the KNVB-Beker results.


No - Heerenveen win on away goals.  :)

And you missed PSV...

PSV - Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv  1 - 0 (aggregate: 2 - 0)


So, four out of five. Not bad at all. Now let's hope the teams get a lucky draw.

Yesterday also saw the draw for the Champions League.

AZ Alkmaar faces Arsenal, Olympiakos and Standard Liege in the first group stage. Looks like a battle for second place...

No - Heerenveen win on away goals.  :)

I can't count. Thanks for the clarification..

We should have had some results today. Let me check.

Eredivisie

RKC 0 - 2 ADO Den Haag
Roda JC 3 - 4 Vitesse

Eerste Divisie

AGOVV 2 - 1 Oss
De Graafschap 4 - 0 Omniworld
FC Den Bosch 2 - 4 Cambuur
FC Eindhoven 4 - 4 Excelsior
Volendam 0 - 3 Zwolle
Go Ahead Eagles 2 - 0 Fortuna Sittard
Helmond Sport 1 - 1 Dordrecht '90
HFC Haarlem 4 - 0 FC Emmen
RBC 3 - 0 MVV
Veendam 1 - 1 Telstar

Eredivisie

RKC 0 - 2 ADO Den Haag
Roda JC 3 - 4 Vitesse

Eerste Divisie

AGOVV 2 - 1 Oss
De Graafschap 4 - 0 Omniworld
FC Den Bosch 2 - 4 Cambuur
FC Eindhoven 4 - 4 Excelsior
Volendam 0 - 3 Zwolle
Go Ahead Eagles 2 - 0 Fortuna Sittard
Helmond Sport 1 - 1 Dordrecht '90
HFC Haarlem 4 - 0 FC Emmen
RBC 3 - 0 MVV
Veendam 1 - 1 Telstar



Go Ahead Eagles are the only team with a perfect score (5 from 5). This also happens to be a club record (winning their first five games of the season, I mean).

Emmen are the only team yet to score a goal.

The Volendam v Zwolle game was broadcasted live on RTL 7 yesterday evening. The game was an insult to soccer. Zwolle sucked the least and deserved the win (more than Volendam, anyway). All three goals were scored in the final 10 minutes of the game.

Today's Eredivisie results:


NEC 1 - 1 VVV
AZ 2 - 1 Willem II
Soccerway implies that the second AZ goal was scored immediately after Willem II's goal. I would have liked to have seen that. (Sort of!)
Utrecht 2 - 0 Sparta Rotterdam


We appear to be missing one KNVB Beker result. I'll report back, I hope.

Today's KNVB Beker results, with the one missing:

AFC 34 2 - 1 Zaamslag
Hoek HSV 0 - 1 Gemert (AET)
Capelle 2 - 0 UNA
Drachtster Boys 0 - 2 SC Joure
Rijnsburgse Boys 3 - 0 SV Argon
ACV 0 - 2 AFC (AET)
DOVO 0 - 2 Haaglandia
HHC Hardenberg 1 - 2 FC Lisse
Waspik 0 - 2 SDC Putten
IJsselmeervogels 3 - 0 HSC 21
RKVV Westlandia 2 - 0 Nunspeet
LRC 4 - 2 Quick 20
Hilversum FC 2 - 5 SV Spakenburg
HBS 0 - 2 Bennekom
Excelsior Maassluis 1 - 0 Rood Wit 62
RKSV Groene Ster 2 - 4 Harkemase Boys
Baronie 3 - 0 Kloetinge
De Treffers 2 - 1 Go Ahead Kampen
FC Chabab 1 - 2 WHC Wezep
EVV 0 - 4 BVV Barendrecht
GVVV 1 - 0 WKE
Schaesberg 1 - 3 Sparta Nijkerk
Achilles 29 2 - 1 Berkum

Today's KNVB Beker results, with the one missing:

AFC 34 2 - 1 Zaamslag
Hoek HSV 0 - 1 Gemert (AET)
Capelle 2 - 0 UNA
Drachtster Boys 0 - 2 SC Joure
Rijnsburgse Boys 3 - 0 SV Argon
ACV 0 - 2 AFC (AET)
DOVO 0 - 2 Haaglandia
HHC Hardenberg 1 - 2 FC Lisse
Waspik 0 - 2 SDC Putten
IJsselmeervogels 3 - 0 HSC 21
RKVV Westlandia 2 - 0 Nunspeet
LRC 4 - 2 Quick 20
Hilversum FC 2 - 5 SV Spakenburg
HBS 0 - 2 Bennekom
Excelsior Maassluis 1 - 0 Rood Wit 62
RKSV Groene Ster 2 - 4 Harkemase Boys
Baronie 3 - 0 Kloetinge
De Treffers 2 - 1 Go Ahead Kampen
FC Chabab 1 - 2 WHC Wezep
EVV 0 - 4 BVV Barendrecht
GVVV 1 - 0 WKE
Schaesberg 1 - 3 Sparta Nijkerk
Achilles 29 2 - 1 Berkum


Didn't we once have conversation re. Groene Ster..?  :-\\ What was it about again...?




Oh yes, I remember. They reached the KNVB Cup final of 1945, where they got their asses kicked by.... Willem II! :o

It's good to see they're still active, though not nearly as successful as they used to be.

Today's Eredivisie results:


NEC 1 - 1 VVV
AZ 2 - 1 Willem II
Soccerway implies that the second AZ goal was scored immediately after Willem II's goal. I would have liked to have seen that. (Sort of!)
Utrecht 2 - 0 Sparta Rotterdam




Soccerway is right, you know. Two goals within the minute.

And FTR: fifth consecutive draw for VVV Venlo. Not yet a record, I think - at least no one has mentioned anything like that.

I noticed. Five draws from five games. I'm not sure what a team would think of that if they were playing. It's two sides of the same coin, "Hey, we're undefeated so far this season", coupled with "We have no wins so far this season."

Glass half empty?

I noticed. Five draws from five games. I'm not sure what a team would think of that if they were playing. It's two sides of the same coin, "Hey, we're undefeated so far this season", coupled with "We have no wins so far this season."

Glass half empty?


For VVV, I think the glass is half full. Probably even more than that!

Didn't we once have conversation re. Groene Ster..?  :-\\ What was it about again...?

Oh yes, I remember. They reached the KNVB Cup final of 1945, where they got their asses kicked by.... Willem II! :o

Ahh yes, the good old days! Way back when.


It's good to see they're still active, though not nearly as successful as they used to be.

Groene Star? Or Willem II? ;D

Groene Star? Or Willem II? ;D


You decide! ;D

Dutch Women's team proceed to semi-finals of European Championships, after defeating France in the quarter final.

The game remained goalless, even after extra time, and had to be decided by penalties. First 8 penalties (4 for each team) went in the net, but then France missed three in a row. Holland missed two but scored the third.

Heerenveen coach Trond Sollied has been given the sack, after only five games in his second season with the club.

In his first season, he managed to take the club to 5th place and winning the KNVB Cup (for the first time). Heerenveen are currently 15th in Dutch Eredivisie - apparently not good enough. ::)

A complete set of Eerste Divisie fixtures tonight. In the Eredivisie, four games on Saturday, five games on Sunday.

Tonight's Eerste Divisie results:


BV Veendam 0 - 0 Helmond Sport
Excelsior 1 - 1 Go Ahead Eagles
FC Dordrecht 2 - 0 RBC
Omniworld 3 - 4 Den Bosch
Oss 1 - 1 FC Eindhoven
Zwolle 2 - 2 De Graafschap
Fortuna Sittard 2 - 2 AGOVV
MVV 2 - 1 FC Emmen
Cambuur 4 - 1 Haarlem
Telstar 1 - 1 Volendam


That's the Go Ahead Eagles' first dropped points of this Eerste Divisie campaign. Cambuur also remain undefeated in fourth position.

FC Emmen remain the only team with no victories to their credit, while Volendam have just a single victory to their credit thus far.

Hoofdklasse finally kicks off tomorrow, while we have four Eredivisie fixtures.

A complete set of Eerste Divisie fixtures tonight. In the Eredivisie, four games on Saturday, five games on Sunday.


Not this week - next week. Lots of international matches (friendlies, WC qualifiers) going on this weekend. ;)

Ahh, good stuff. What are the Dutch doing? Facing Japan in a friendly, by the looks.

Ahh, good stuff. What are the Dutch doing? Facing Japan in a friendly, by the looks.


That's the plan.

Not sure if Dutch hooligans have the same friendly plans, though.

The final score was 3 - 0 to the Netherlands. Second half goals from Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder, and Klaas-Jan Goalmachine. Having moved to Milan from Real Madrid in the summer, KJ's last five domestic games have all ended in defeat.

The final score was 3 - 0 to the Netherlands. Second half goals from Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder, and Klaas-Jan Goalmachine. Having moved to Milan from Real Madrid in the summer, KJ's last five domestic games have all ended in defeat.


Not if you include this one.  ;)

Dutch Women's team proceed to semi-finals of European Championships, after defeating France in the quarter final.



The semi-final was lost to England. Final score after 90 minutes: 1 - 1, so the teams had to play extra time. It took England until the 116th minute to score the winning goal.

I'm sad about the loss, but in all honesty: England was the better team. Our tactics (defense, and counter attack when possible) worked, much like it did against France. Only this time it didn't bring us to penalties.

I heard and saw absolutely nothing of the game. But it's good to see our women's team succeed.

No Eredivisie games until Saturday, RKC stand a chance of their first points of the season against Sparta, while VVV, who, in spite of five draws out of five, have scored in every one of their games so far this season, face Heracles, in an effort to get their wins column boosted. AZ can go for their fifth consecutive win against ADO den Haag.

Just one Eerste Divisie team remains winless, and basement side FC Emmen stand a chance of amending this against similarly lowly Omniworld next Friday.

Oh wow. Today's Eerste Divisie results:


AGOVV 2 - 3 Veendam
De Graafschap 2 - 1 Telstar
FC Den Bosch 6 - 0 MVV
Laurent Castellana got sent off in the sixth minute of the game. Fabio Caracciolo scored a hat trick in the second half of the game.
FC Eindhoven 0 - 8 Dordrecht
Volendam 1 - 0 Excelsior
Fortuna Sittard 1 - 2 Cambuur
Go Ahead Eagles 3 - 1 Oss
Marco Parnela scored a goal in the first minute of the game, apparently.
Haarlem 1 - 4 Helmond Sport
RBC 0 - 0 Zwolle


Top side Go Ahead Eagles remain undefeated at the top of the table, as do third-placed side Cambuur.

Four Eredivisie matches tomorrow.

39-year-old Henny van Schoonhoven, formerly of FC Utrecht, has died of cancer. Unfortunately I know little about him without hauling myself over to Babelfish translation, but according to VI, he played with Utrecht, ADO den Haag, and Cambuur.

Today's Eredivisie results:


PSV 3 - 0 Roda
Twente 3 - 2 Utrecht
Heerenveen 0 - 1 Groningen
ADO Den Haag 2 - 1 AZ


Not happy times for AZ then, I would guess. Five Eredivisie games tomorrow.

Today's Eredivisie results:


PSV 3 - 0 Roda
Twente 3 - 2 Utrecht
Heerenveen 0 - 1 Groningen
ADO Den Haag 2 - 1 AZ


Not happy times for AZ then, I would guess. Five Eredivisie games tomorrow.


No, not good for AZ.  Although... You might remember that AZ lost 3 to 0 to Den Haag in 2008/09 season, and we all know what happened next... ::) ;)

Groningen finally in for the much needed win. Takes them away from the bottom spots (for now), whereas Heerenveen only move further down.

39-year-old Henny van Schoonhoven, formerly of FC Utrecht, has died of cancer. Unfortunately I know little about him without hauling myself over to Babelfish translation, but according to VI, he played with Utrecht, ADO den Haag, and Cambuur.


Sad news indeed. There's nothing I can add to the facts as displayed, because there's not much more to tell.

Today's Eredivisie results:


Willem II 2 - 3 Feijenoord
Sparta Rotterdam 1 - 0 RKC Waalwijk
Ajax 6 - 0 NAC
VVV 1 - 0 Heracles
Vitesse 2 - 2 NEC


That's five defeats from Willem II's last five games. So much for being at the top of the table after a single game, they're now just one place away from the bottom.

Next week in the Eredivisie, one match on Friday, four matches on Saturday and four matches on Sunday.

Next week in the Eerste Divisie, eight matches on Friday, two matches on Sunday.

Todays' Eredivisie results:


Willem II 2 - 3 Feijenoord
Sparta Rotterdam 1 - 0 RKC Waalwijk
Ajax 6 - 0 NAC
VVV 1 - 0 Heracles
Vitesse 2 - 2 NEC


That's five defeats from Willem II's last five games. So much for being at the top of the table after a single game, they're now just one place away from the bottom.



Still better than RKC, with zero points (from six games now).

VVV's first win of the season takes them to 9th place. Who'd have thought they'd still be without defeat after 6 games...
Unfortunately, they'll be facing Ajax this weekend. I fear their undefeated streak ends there - Honda or no Honda.

When Arsenal had their undefeated season a few years ago, I wondered to myself - What could, mathematically, be the worst a team could do, while still remaining undefeated? For example, last year's Serie A campaign, 38 draws from 38 games would see you slot in neatly in either 16th or 15th place. I wonder if in reality it's possible a team may one day go undefeated and yet lose a title - in any league.

When Arsenal had their undefeated season a few years ago, I wondered to myself - What could, mathematically, be the worst a team could do, while still remaining undefeated? For example, last year's Serie A campaign, 38 draws from 38 games would see you slot in neatly in either 16th or 15th place. I wonder if in reality it's possible a team may one day go undefeated and yet lose a title - in any league.


It may already have happened, but I don't know of such a case.

Today's only score from the world of the Champions League:


Olympiakos 1 - 0 AZ


With AZ appearing in the KNVB Beker next Tuesday, they will want to bounce back from their last two defeats in their league game on Saturday.

Today's Netherlands-based results:


Ajax 0 - 0 Timisoara
Fenerbahce 1 - 2 FC Twente
Sparta Prague 2 - 2 PSV

Today's Netherlands-based results:


Ajax 0 - 0 Timisoara
Fenerbahce 1 - 2 FC Twente
Sparta Prague 2 - 2 PSV



And of course:

Heerenveen - Sporting Portugal  2 - 3

Ooh I missed that one. Silly me.

Ooh I missed that one. Silly me.


Hey, I've missed them all (as in: haven't seen any of the action)!  ;D ;)

Today's Dutch results:

Eredivisie

Willem II 2 - 1 Groningen

Eerste Divisie

Veendam 4 - 0 Volendam
De Graafschap 2 - 0 Fortuna Sittard
Dordrecht 2 - 3 Cambuur
Omniworld 1 - 2 AGOVV
Helmond Sport 2 - 2 FC Eindhoven
MVV 1 - 1 Excelsior
RBC 2 - 2 Haarlem
Telstar 4 - 1 Emmen

Today's Dutch results:

Eredivisie

Willem II 2 - 1 Groningen



I imagine you doing some sort of victory dance. :D

I imagine you doing some sort of victory dance. :D

You mean like this? *victory dance*?

That reminds me, I need to add all the Clubliederen back into my bookmarks folder. :D

Today's results:


Heracles 1 - 1 Sparta
Roda JC 2 - 0 NAC
Vitesse 3 - 1 RKC
AZ 0 - 1 NEC


Not a good result for last season's champions, then. Lorenzo Davids scores a goal in the last five minutes of the game.

Elsewhere, Capelle make it three from three in H. Saturday A with a victory against Rijnsbergse Boys. ASWH have won their last five fixtures in all competitions and face GVVV in the KNVB Beker on Tuesday.

Four Eredivisie fixtures tomorrow. Next week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday see second round KNVB Beker action.

Today's results:


Heracles 1 - 1 Sparta
Roda JC 2 - 0 NAC
Vitesse 3 - 1 RKC
AZ 0 - 1 NEC


Not a good result for last season's champions, then. Lorenzo Davids scores a goal in the last five minutes of the game.


Three losses in their last three fixtures. Definitely not good. :(

RKC have now lost seven of seven - just as bad as Volendam last season (and we all know where they ended up...)
BTW: the record still stands at eight consecutive losses at the start of the season (held by MVV and Volendam). I can easily see RKC beating that.



Meanwhile, just south of the border (in Belgium) Sint Truiden prolongue their lead in the Jupiler Pro League. The team hadn't topped the table in 45 years.
In addition: I only just noticed that the team was playing second division last season, so they're doing extremely well.

We've missed Sundays games, and also this week's KNVB Cup results.

I've seen one interesting result in Tuesday's KNVB Cup results: Haaglandia - Excelsior  6 - 6 (AET, Excelsior win on penalties)

Excelsior took an early lead (0 - 2 with only ten minutes gone), and they were leading 1 - 3 at half time.
Haaglandia scored three times in a row in the second half to make it 4 - 3, but a late equalizer took the game to extra time.
Haaglandia then took a 6 - 4 lead, and a surprise victory seemed to be in the making. Sadly, Excelsior managed to score twice again (goals in the 103rd minute and 120th minute) and it was on to penalties.
Excelsior proved to be the best there (6 - 7).

That's one game I'd have loved to have seen.

Updates:

Results from Eredivisie (Sunday 20 September)

ADO Den Haag - FC Utrecht 0-1 
SC Heerenveen - FC Twente 0-2 
Feyenoord - PSV 1-3 
VVV Venlo - Ajax 0-4


PSV are now leading the table, with Twente in second place (on goal difference).



KNVB Cup, second round results

Tuesday 22 September

AFC'34 - FC Emmen 1 - 6 
LRC - RBC Roosendaal 1 - 5 
Haaglandia - Excelsior  6 - 6 (AET, Excelsior win on penalties)   
Excelsior M. - Bennekom 4 - 2 
Vitesse - FC Oss 5 - 2 
Telstar - Haarlem 1 - 3 
ASWH - GVVV 2 - 1 
FC Omniworld - Helmond Sport 1 - 3 
FC Volendam - Sparta 1 - 2   
Heracles Almelo - RKC Waalwijk 1 - 0   
FC Eindhoven - NEC 2 - 3   
Spakenburg - MVV 3 - 1   
Jong De Graafschap - SC Cambuur 1 - 0   
FC Dordrecht - Fortuna Sittard 3 - 2   
AZ - Jong Ajax 2 - 0   

Wednesday 23 September

SDC Putten - SC Heerenveen 0 - 7 
Rijnsburgse Boys - Go Ahead Eagles 1 - 4 
Sparta Nijkerk - FC Zwolle  2 - 2 (AET, Zwolle win on penalties)   
SC Joure - FC Twente 0 - 8   
Lisse - FC Den Bosch 0 - 4 
Capelle - Westlandia 4 - 0 
AFC - WHC 0 - 1 
IJsselmeervogels - Roda JC 1 - 2   
De Treffers/Kegro - BV Veendam 2 - 0   
Baronie - Barendrecht 1 - 1 (AET, Baronie win on penalties)   
VVV Venlo - ADO Den Haag 3 - 0   
Willem II - NAC Breda 2 - 3   
FC Utrecht - FC Groningen 2 - 4   
PSV - De Graafschap 2 - 1   


Thursday 24 September

Harkemase Boys - Feyenoord 0 - 5   

Still in progress as we speak:
Achilles '29 - Gemert 
AGOVV - Ajax

Thank you for updates, Henk. I have been a little slack lately.

Today's KNVB-Beker results:


Harkemase Boys 0 - 5 Feijenoord
Achilles 29 0 - 1 Gemert
AGOVV Apeldoorn 1 - 2 Ajax
Two of the goals were scored by AGOVV players. Sadly one was in the wrong net.


Six Eerste Divisie matches tomorrow.

And with that we only have 8 amateur teams left in comptetition for the KNVB Cup.


Third Round draw (to be played 27 - 29 October):

Gemert - WHC
Roda JC - PSV
Heracles Almelo - Haarlem
Sparta - VVV Venlo
NEC - Excelsior
SC Heerenveen - RBC Roosendaal
AZ - Spakenburg
FC Twente - Capelle
Helmond Sport - ASWH
FC Dordrecht - Ajax
Feyenoord - FC Den Bosch
Go Ahead Eagles - FC Emmen
De Treffers - NAC Breda
Baronie - Excelsior Maassluis
Vitesse - FC Groningen
Jong De Graafschap - FC Zwolle


With two all-amateur fixtures, at least two amateur teams will proceed to round 4.
Of the other four amateur teams, only ASWH has a reasonable chance to proceed (playing Helmond Sport), and maybe De Treffers too (home against NAC Breda). I fear the worst for Spakenburg and Capelle...

Results of tonight's Eerste Divisie matches:


Excelsior 2 - 0 Omniworld
Eindhoven 1 - 2 Telstar
Emmen 1 - 3 Helmond Sport
Volendam 3 - 3 Dordrecht
Cambuur 1 - 1 RBC
Oss 3 - 2 MVV

Cambuur slide to the top of the Eerste Divisie, with Go Ahead Eagles not in action until Sunday. That's RBC's third draw from their last three games, quite neatly now their record reads W3 D3 L3.

Emmen are still without a league victory this season, though (thankfully?) they crushed AFC 1934 in the KNVB-Beker earlier in the week. Do we like AFC 34, on account of their Alkmaarness?

Four Eredivisie matches and one Eerste Divisie match tomorrow.

Yesterday's Eredivisie results:


Utrecht 1 - 0 AZ
Gosh, that's three defeats in the last three AZ games..
RKC Waalwijk 4 -  1 Roda
RKC's first points, at the eighth attempt.
PSV 3 - 1 Willem II
FC Twente 2 - 1 VVV
In spite of VVV going ahead in the early stages of the game


And one from the Eerste Divisie:


Haarlem 3 - 2 FC Den Bosch


Casting our net further afield, PKC '83 get their third win from three games against Be Quick 28, with a crushing 5 - 0 victory, putting them second in the table with a game in hand over top side Excelsior 31.

Sunday's games, five in the Eredivisie, three in the Eerste Divisie.

Today's KNVB-Beker results:


Harkemase Boys 0 - 5 Feijenoord


One impressive goal from this match...  ::)

Today's Champions League result:


AZ 1 - 1 Standard Liege


One Eredivisie game tomorrow.

Today's Champions League result:


AZ 1 - 1 Standard Liege


One Eredivisie game tomorrow.


AZ giving away the victory in extra time, which makes it feel like a defeat. Sad faces all around in Alkmaar.

Still, there is a glimmer of hope, for we have seen AZ play like in the 2008-09 season from time to time.

Today's Eredivisie result:


NEC 1 - 1 Utrecht

Not quite sure when this happened, but we have some KNVB Beker third round matches announced. As for the non-league teams, ASWH face Helmond Sport, De Treffers face NAC, Jong De Graafschap face FC Zwolle, Gemert face Wezep (an all-non-league tie), SV Spakenberg face AZ, Capelle face FC Twente, and Baronie face Excelsior Maassluis (another all-non-league tie).

That's nine non-league teams, two of which are guaranteed to make it through to Round 4.

Not quite sure when this happened, but we have some KNVB Beker third round matches announced. As for the non-league teams, ASWH face Helmond Sport, De Treffers face NAC, Jong De Graafschap face FC Zwolle, Gemert face Wezep (an all-non-league tie), SV Spakenberg face AZ, Capelle face FC Twente, and Baronie face Excelsior Maassluis (another all-non-league tie).

That's nine non-league teams, two of which are guaranteed to make it through to Round 4.


Ahem... ::)




And with that we only have 8 amateur teams left in comptetition for the KNVB Cup.


Third Round draw (to be played 27 - 29 October):

Gemert - WHC
Roda JC - PSV
Heracles Almelo - Haarlem
Sparta - VVV Venlo
NEC - Excelsior
SC Heerenveen - RBC Roosendaal
AZ - Spakenburg
FC Twente - Capelle
Helmond Sport - ASWH
FC Dordrecht - Ajax
Feyenoord - FC Den Bosch
Go Ahead Eagles - FC Emmen
De Treffers - NAC Breda
Baronie - Excelsior Maassluis
Vitesse - FC Groningen
Jong De Graafschap - FC Zwolle


With two all-amateur fixtures, at least two amateur teams will proceed to round 4.
Of the other four amateur teams, only ASWH has a reasonable chance to proceed (playing Helmond Sport), and maybe De Treffers too (home against NAC Breda). I fear the worst for Spakenburg and Capelle...

Ahem... ::)

*cough* I knew I read that somewhere. :D Being wide-awake would help. Cheers Henk!

Anyhoo, one Eredivisie match today, four matches on Saturday, and four matches on Sunday.

In the Eerste Divisie, we have nine matches on Friday and one on Sunday.

Europa League results, October 1:

Anderlecht - Ajax                    1 - 1
FK Ventspils - sc Heerenveen    0 - 0
PSV - CFR Cluj                        1 - 0
FC Twente - Steaua Bucharest  0 - 0

The good news is: no defeats there.
The bad news is:
- Ajax were playing against 10 of Anderlecht for the last 10 minutes, and STILL managed to give it away.
- PSV really should've scored 4 or 5 times against Cluj.

Today's results:

Eredivisie

Vitesse 2 - 0 Sparta

Eerste Divisie

De Graafschap 2 - 0 Dordrecht
Excelsior 2 - 1 RBC
Den Bosch 1 - 1 Go Ahead Eagles
FC Emmen 3 - 1 AGOVV
Oss 0 - 3 Veendam
Zwolle 2 - 1 MVV
Fortuna Sittard 3 - 2 Volendam
Helmond Sport 2 - 1 Omniworld
Cambuur 3 - 1 FC Eindhoven


So, Cambuur remain undefeated, while FC Emmen pick up their first victory of the campaign. Round 10's final match takes place on Sunday.

Four Eredivisie matches tomorrow. AZ, three defeats from their last three games, take on NAC Breda. Three defeats in their last three games.

Tonight's Eredivisie results:


ADO Den Haag 1 - 1 Groningen
AZ 1 - 0 NAC
Willem II 1 - 1 NEC
Feijenoord 3 - 0 RKC


Four games tomorrow.

Tonight's Eredivisie results:


ADO Den Haag 1 - 1 Groningen
AZ 1 - 0 NAC
Willem II 1 - 1 NEC
Feijenoord 3 - 0 RKC


Four games tomorrow.


In spite of their victory, AZ are still stuck at sixth place.

ADO, Groningen, Willem II and NEC all drew - which doesn't get them anywhere really.

Today's results:

Eredivisie

Roda JC 2 - 2 Ajax
Heracles 1 - 3 Twente
Heerenveen 1 - 1 VVV
Utrecht 0 - 0 PSV


Yet another draw for VVV, though sadly this comes off the back of two defeats. PSV's draw and Twente's win mean that Twente glide to the top of the table. Both teams remain unbeaten.

Eerste Divisie

Telstar 2 - 2 Haarlem


Next week in the Eredivisie, four matches on Saturday and five on Sunday. In the Eerste Divisie, our usual ten Friday matches. Can't bypass today's matches without mentioning SC Joure's 1 - 9 home defeat against Nieuw Buinen. The game is Nieuw Buinen's first victory of the campaign, and ensures SC Joure maintain a winless record so far this season. And this coming so soon after Joure lost 0 - 8 in the KNVB-Beker to Twente.

As an aside, yesterday saw the first game of the 2009-10 Surinamese Hoofdklasse, as last season's second-placers, Leo Victor, robbed from the mediocre and gave... themselves, three points, overcoming Robin Hood.

The Eerste Klasse also began yesterday, though I do not know a result from yesterday's match.

Tonight's results:


Helmond Sport 0 - 2 De Graafschap
Veendam 2 - 2 Cambuur
Dordrecht 5 - 0 Emmen
Eindhoven 2 - 2 Fortuna Sittard
Omniworld 0 - 0 Zwolle
Volendam 1 - 0 Oss
Go Ahead Eagles 0 - 0 AGOVV
Haarlem 0 - 1 Excelsior
MVV 2 - 0 Telstar
RBC 0 - 3 Den Bosch


That's the second draw from the last two games for the Go Ahead Eagles, and with De Graasfschap's victory today, they climb to the top of the table.

Cambuur remain undefeated, in third place.

October 10, 2009 - Friendly match:

Australia 0 - 0 The Netherlands


Not as boring as one might expect judging by the result, but not top-quality either. Third time we played Australia, and we've yet to win.

Thanks for the update, Henk. Nothing to report from the Eredivisie or the Eerste Divisie today, but in H. Sunday A, AFC picked up their sixth victory from six, pulling them seven points clear at the top of the table. Haaglandia in fourth have picked up their three victories so far this season in their last three games.

Two teams remain undefeated in H. Sunday B, while OSS 20 have six defeats from six games.

Sixth-placed De Treffers remain the only team without a loss in H. Sunday C.

This is interesting - courtesy of Soccerway:

Van Gaal came close to United job

Louis van Gaal has revealed he was all set to replace Sir Alex Ferguson in 2002 until the Manchester United boss had a change of heart.

Ferguson had announced his intention to retire at the end of the 2001/02 campaign and the Red Devils quickly set about lining up a replacement.

Van Gaal had established a glowing reputation from his days at Ajax and Barcelona, and was in charge of the Dutch national side when United came calling.

DSB Bank, main sponsor of Dutch champions AZ Alkmaar, are teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.
The bank is under guardianship by the Nederlandsche Bank (Dutch State Bank) as of Monday, and all assets have been frozen.
Two curators have been appointed to make a clean sweep of things. According to all sources, there is no imminent danger for the existence of AZ Alkmaar, although the continuation of other sponsor activities by DSB is highly unlikely. (DSB are also sponsor of a successful speed skating team)

Dirk Scheringa, founder and main shareholder of DSB, remains in office as chairman of AZ.

Tonight's Eerste Divisie results:


Go Ahead Eagles 1 - 2 Cambuur
AGOVV 4 - 1 FC Eindhoven
Veendam 1 - 1 De Graafschap
Excelsior 3 - 0 Zwolle
Omniworld 0 - 2 RBC
Oss 1 - 0 Haarlem
Fortuna Sittard 0 - 3 Dordrecht
MVV 3 - 1 Helmond Sport
Telstar 1 - 4 Den Bosch


Gulp. Willem II face Ajax tomorrow. Hopefully we shall concede fewer than seven goals this time around.

I've been a million miles away lately. Got some results to catch up on.

Results from Saturday 17:

Ajax 4 - 0 Willem II
Twente 3 - 2 AZ
NAC 4 - 0 Vitesse
PSV 1 - 0 Heerenveen

Results from Sunday 18:

Eredivisie

VVV 1 - 1 Roda
RKC 0 - 1 Heracles
NEC 1 - 1 ADO Den Haag
Groningen 0 - 0 Utrecht
Sparta 2 - 1 Feijenoord

Eerste Divisie

Volendam 6 - 0 Emmen


FC Emmen remain rooted to the bottom of the Eerste Divisie table. Cambuur, at the top of the Eerste Divisie table, face third-from-bottom Omniworld next match.

Next week in the Eredivisie, one match on Friday, four on Saturday, four on Sunday. In the Eerste Divisie, our usual ten Friday matches.

Results from Sunday 18:

Eredivisie

VVV 1 - 1 Roda
RKC 0 - 1 Heracles
NEC 1 - 1 ADO Den Haag
Groningen 0 - 0 Utrecht
Sparta 2 - 1 Feijenoord




Red cards for Cissé and Tomasson (Feyenoord) and Poepon (Sparta) in that match.



One result from tonight's Champions League matches:

AZ Alkmaar 1 - 1 Arsenal

A 34th minute goal by Fabregas put Arsenal in the lead, but a late equalizer (93th minute) by Mendes da Silva brought some joy back in Alkmaar.

Herself told me it had been a late goal to tie the game up, but I never knew it was that late. Thanks for the information, Henk. Unfortunately, this means that AZ still have no victories from their three matches.

Herself told me it had been a late goal to tie the game up, but I never knew it was that late. Thanks for the information, Henk. Unfortunately, this means that AZ still have no victories from their three matches.


I've only seen the last 20 minutes of the game. AZ were pretty much powerless then, and seemingly uninspired. In spite of being only one goal down, and with nothing left to lose, they still refused to play all or nothing.
The equalizer really came out of the blue. A lot of fans had already left the stadium by then.

No victories yet, that's true. But they haven't been eliminated yet either (unlike Glasgow Rangers).

Today's results from the Europa League:

Sherriff 2 - 0 Twente
PSV 1 - 0 FC Copenhagen
Ajax 2 - 1 Dynamo Zagreb
Hertha Berlin 0 - 1 Heerenveen

Ten Eerste Divisie matches tomorrow. Unbeaten Cambuur face third-from-bottom Omniworld.

Today's results:

Eredivisie

Utrecht 2 - 1 Roda JC

Eerste Divisie

De Graafschap 2 - 1 MVV
FC Den Bosch 3 - 1 Fortuna Sittard
Dordrecht 0 - 3 Telstar
FC Eindhoven 1 - 2 Go Ahead Eagles
Emmen 4 - 2 Excelsior
Zwolle 1 - 2 Veendam
Helmond Sport 4 - 4 AGOVV
Haarlem 1 - 2 Volendam
RBC 0 - 3 Oss
Cambuur 4 - 2 Omniworld

Some Eredivise results...

October 23:
FC Utrecht - Roda JC            2-1 

October 24:
ADO Den Haag - Sparta        2-3 
Feyenoord - VVV Venlo        1-0 
Vitesse - Heracles Almelo    0-2 
NAC Breda - RKC Waalwijk  1-0
 
October 25:
FC Twente - FC Groningen    4-0 
AZ - Ajax                            2-4 
Willem II - SC Heerenveen    4-1 
NEC - PSV                          0-4


So... congrats to Willem II, and commiserations to AZ (who have now dropped to 8th place). It's not looking good. :(

Cheers for updates, Henk. Sad to see AZ go down to Ajax today.

Cheers for updates, Henk. Sad to see AZ go down to Ajax today.


They played a brilliant first half, but failed to score more than once. In the second half, they gave it all away within 8 minutes.

AZ are now 14 points behind leaders FC Twente. I don't see how/where they'll make up for that. :-\\ In fact, I fear the worst for AZ...

Am I reading this right? According to Wiki, RKC are on the verge of being declared bankrupt. What is going to happen here..?

Am I reading this right? According to Wiki, RKC are on the verge of being declared bankrupt. What is going to happen here..?


Wiki is right. RKC are in desperate need of money. If they don't get it by the end of this week, it's all over, as I understand it.

I believe we have some KNVB Beker results through. Here we are:


Heracles 3 - 0 Haarlem
Sparta Rotterdam 1 - 1 VVV
Sparta win on penalties
Helmond Sport 5 - 0 ASWH
Go Ahead Eagles 4 - 2 Emmen (AET)
De Treffers 1 - 6 NAC
Jong de Graafschap  1 - 0 FC Zwolle (AET)
Feijenoord 2 - 0 FC Den Bosch


By the way, Henk - what does ESPN refer to when it calls the team De Treffers/Kegro, rather than merely De Treffers?

Eight KNVB Beker games tomorrow.

I believe we have some KNVB Beker results through. Here we are:


Heracles 3 - 0 Haarlem
Sparta Rotterdam 1 - 1 VVV
Sparta win on penalties
Helmond Sport 5 - 0 ASWH
Go Ahead Eagles 4 - 2 Emmen (AET)
De Treffers 1 - 6 NAC
Jong de Graafschap  1 - 0 FC Zwolle (AET)
Feijenoord 2 - 0 FC Den Bosch


By the way, Henk - what does ESPN refer to when it calls the team De Treffers/Kegro, rather than merely De Treffers?

Eight KNVB Beker games tomorrow.

Yesterday's KNVB Beker results:


AZ 5 - 2 Spakenburg (AET)
Baronie 1 - 0 Excelsior Maassluis (AET)
Gemert 2 - 2 WHC
WHC win on penalties. Not sure what score it was..
Heerenveen 4 - 2 RBC Roosendaal
NEC 2 - 1 Excelsior (AET)
Twente 3 - 0 Capelle
Vitesse 1 - 5 Groningen
Roda 0 - 2 PSV

Today's score in the KNVB-Beker:


Dordrecht 1 - 2 Ajax
Ajax's Urby Emanuelson scored both of their goals, the second of the two coming in the final minute of extra time. Very nervewracking, I'm certain!


Seven Eerste Divisie fixtures tomorrow. Unbeaten Cambuur face AGOVV.

Today's Eerste Divisie results:


AGOVV 3 - 4 Cambuur
AGOVV's Olaf Lindenbergh got sent off towards the end of the first half.
Veendam 0 - 1 Den Bosch
Omniworld 2 - 1 Telstar
Oss 1 - 3 Emmen
Volendam 2 - 6 Go Ahead Eagles
Zwolle 3 - 1 Helmond Sport
Haarlem 2 - 1 FC Eindhoven
Each side ended with ten men.


There's still an Eredivisie game going on. It will finish eventually... he says.

Today's score in the KNVB-Beker:


Dordrecht 1 - 2 Ajax
Ajax's Urby Emanuelson scored both of their goals, the second of the two coming in the final minute of extra time. Very nervewracking, I'm certain!


Seven Eerste Divisie fixtures tomorrow. Unbeaten Cambuur face AGOVV.


Dordrecht came very close to a surprise victory, but it wasn't to be. Poor performance by Ajax there, but who will remember?



Today's Eerste Divisie results:


AGOVV 3 - 4 Cambuur
AGOVV's Olaf Lindenbergh got sent off towards the end of the first half.




Despite scoring seven times in their last two matches, AGOVV only managed to take one point (of a possible six). Very frustrating!

Results from Saturday:


Heerenveen 3 - 0 ADO den Haag
Roda 1 - 2 Twente
PSV 1 - 0 Vitesse
Groningen 0 - 1 AZ
Jeremain Lens putting one away towards the end of the game.


Four games today, perhaps Willem II can pull a victory out of the bag against bottom side RKC. I wouldn't put it past us to suck though..

Results from Saturday:


Heerenveen 3 - 0 ADO den Haag
Roda 1 - 2 Twente
PSV 1 - 0 Vitesse
Groningen 0 - 1 AZ
Jeremain Lens putting one away towards the end of the game.


Four games today, perhaps Willem II can pull a victory out of the bag against bottom side RKC. I wouldn't put it past us to suck though..


Twente's win mean they stay top of the table for another week.

Today's results:

Eredivisie

Ajax 5 - 1 Feijenoord
Feijenoord finished the game with nine men, having lost Stefan Babovic and Rob van Dijk. Can't be good for a team at the best of times to lose their goalkeeper..
RKC 0 - 1 Willem II
Belgian Benjamin de Ceulaer received a red card for RKC.
Sparta 2 - 0 NEC
Heracles 3 - 1 Utrecht


Willem II's second consecutive win climbs us up to tenth place in the table.

And a couple of days of Eerste Divisie results:

Eerste Divisie - Saturday

RBC Roosendaal 0 - 1 De Graafschap
Excelsior 1 - 0 Fortuna Sittard

Eerste Divisie - Sunday

Dordrecht 1 - 4 MVV


Thanks to FC Emmen's win, they climb off the bottom of the Eerste Divisie, to be replaced by FC Eindhoven.

Today's results:

Eredivisie

Ajax 5 - 1 Feijenoord
Feijenoord finished the game with nine men, having lost Stefan Babovic and Rob van Dijk. Can't be good for a team at the best of times to lose their goalkeeper..


Babovic was being a bit...silly. It happened shortly after the opening goal of the match (1 - 0 for Ajax), and just on the stroke of half time. Great timing, Stefan...


RKC 0 - 1 Willem II
Belgian Benjamin de Ceulaer received a red card for RKC.


Yes, RKC are still alive. They found the money they needed in the nick of time. One catch, though: the club has to pay 100,000 euro a year for the next ten years to the municipality of Waalwijk (who generously have lowered the rent of the stadium in return).


Sparta 2 - 0 NEC
Heracles 3 - 1 Utrecht


Willem II's second consecutive win climbs us up to tenth place in the table.


Heracles keep winning. They're doing extremely well this season.

RKC are still alive, this is good news. But for how long?

I've not been keeping track of this. Eerste Klasse Saturday B team Vitesse Delft, who finished in fifth place last season, have eight victories out of eight so far this season.

And it seems we have some kind of draw for the last 16 of the KNVB Beker, though I'm not sure how long these have been around:


Groningen v. NEC
Baronie v. Sparta Rotterdam
Twente v. Helmond Sport
Heracles v. Go Ahead Eagles
Feijenoord v. AZ
WHC Wezep v. Ajax
Jong De Graafschap v. NAC
Heerenveen v. PSV


Any upsets on the cards there..?

Today's result from the Champions League:

Arsenal 4 - 1 AZ

AZ go their fourth game from four in the competition without a victory.

Today's results:

Europa League

Dinamo Zagreb 0 - 2 Ajax
Twente 2 - 1 Sheriff
Copenhagen 1 - 1 PSV


Tomorrow, one Eredivisie match and nine Eerste Divisie matches. Cambuur face a stiff test against fourth-placed Excelsior, while De Graafschap face FC Emmen, who, despite being third from bottom in the table, have two wins from their last two matches.

On Saturday, Capelle will attempt to go nine from nine against SVV Scheveningen in H. Saturday A.

in H. Sunday A, AFC, who still occupy the top spot in the table, have dropped just six points this season so far, unfortunately from having lost their last two games. They face bottom of the table FC Chabab this weekend.

Today's results:

Europa League

Dinamo Zagreb 0 - 2 Ajax
Twente 2 - 1 Sheriff
Copenhagen 1 - 1 PSV
sc Heerenveen 2 - 3 Hertha BSC





Fixt.

Fixt.

Ahh cheers, Henk, my eyes passed over that one. ;)

Cambuur look to be heading for their first defeat of the season. Watch this space....

Today's results:

Eredivisie

Groningen 4 - 1 Heracles

Eerste Divisie

Cambuur 1 - 2 Excelsior
AGOVV 2 - 2 Volendam
Den Bosch 2 - 1 Dordrecht
Eindhoven 3 - 2 Veendam
Fortuna Sittard 0 - 0 RBC
Go Ahead Eagles 3 - 2 Haarlem
Helmond Sport 3 - 1 Oss
MVV 1 - 0 Omniworld
Telstar 2 - 3 Zwolle


With Cambuur's defeat, they drop to second place in the table, to be replaced by Go Ahead Eagles.

De Graafschap play on Sunday, they can claim first place wtih a victory over FC Emmen. Meanwhile, FC Den Bosch have won their last five Eerste Divisie matches, their only recent blemish coming in the KNVB Beker against Feijenoord.

Tomorrow, three Eredivisie matches. Also tomorrow, Eerste Klasse Saturday B side Vitesse Delft have a chance to make it nine wins from nine with a victory over Zwaluwen V, who currently occupy fourth place in the table.

Before I report on tonight's results, not all of which are through yet, I found it interesting to note that Ligue 1 side Grenoble drew against Monaco today, but much more interested in what followed later in the report. A loss would have equalled the record of twelve consecutive losing matches by a top division European side, a record currently held by...

...

Manchester United.

Before I report on tonight's results, not all of which are through yet, I found it interesting to note that Ligue 1 side Grenoble drew against Monaco today, but much more interested in what followed later in the report. A loss would have equalled the record of twelve consecutive losing matches by a top division European side, a record currently held by...

...

Manchester United.


Since you've been slacking... ::) ;)

Eredivisie matches of Saturday, November 7:
Vitesse - VVV Venlo  2-0 
Sparta - Roda JC      1-2 
NEC - RKC Waalwijk  0-1 


RKC's second win of the season takes them a little closer to the other bottom side teams. It's still gonna be hard to bridge the gap, though.

Interesting info there about the 12 consecutive losses by Man Utd. I wonder when that was..? ???
Speaking of which: RKC started off losing 11 of their 12 matches - a record for Dutch Eredivisie.

I fell asleep before those matches finished. I'm terrible! I'm awake for these though!

Today's results:

Eredivisie

NAC 4 - 0 Willem II
ADO Den Haag 1 - 5 PSV
AZ 1 - 1 Feijenoord
Utrecht 2 - 3 Heerenveen
Twente 1 - 0 Ajax

Eerste Divisie

FC Emmen 1 - 2 De Graafschap


I hadn't realized that De Graafschap were seven wins from seven at second place in the Eerste Divisie. Eindhoven's victory yesterday means they climb off the bottom of the Eerste Divisie, to be replaced by FC Emmen.

Tonight's Eerste Divisie results:


De Graafschap 1 - 1 FC Den Bosch
Excelsior 0 - 1 AGOVV
Dordrecht 0 - 1 Veendam
Emmen 0 - 0 Fortuna Sittard
Omniworld 4 - 2 Haarlem
Oss 4 - 5 Cambuur
Zwolle 2 - 1 Eindhoven
MVV 5 - 2 Volendam
RBC 2 - 1 Helmond Sport
Telstar 0 - 1 Go Ahead Eagles


Go Ahead Eagles bounce to the top of the table. Nevertheless, second and third placed De Graafschap and Cambuur still only have a single defeat each so far this season.

Nothing from the top two leagues today, so here are some lower-league highlights:


ARC 1 - 7 Rijnsbergse Boys (H. Sat. A)
BVV Barendrecht 3 - 1 Capelle (H. Sat. A)
Capelle's first dropped points of the campaign.
TOGR 3 - 2 FC Lisse (H. Sat. A)
And quite the opposite. TOGR pick up their first points of the season, and overtake DOTO, who replace them at the bottom of the table.
Sparta Nijkerk 0 - 1 IJsselmeervogels (H. Sat. B)
Sparta's second defeat of the season, though they are still safe at the top of the table. IJsselmeervogels jump to third place.
PKC 83 1 - 2 Excelsior 31 (H. Sat. C)
Excelsior pick up their first points in three games, having lost their last two.
ACV 0 - 4 Berkum
ACV no longer occupy top spot in the table.


In Eerste Klasse Sat. B, Vitesse Delft drop their first points of the season after a defeat by Spijkenisse, who climb to ninth in the table. Similarly, in Eerste Klasse Sat. C, Kloetinge drop three points as Rijsoord and Heerjansdam claim victories, and now all three teams have an identical 8 wins, 1 draw, 1 defeat from ten games.

Netherlands play Spain in the Under-21 Championships this evening. Both teams have four victories from their last four games.

No games in the Eredivisie this evening, but four on Saturday and five on Sunday. Twente and PSV will want to keep their unbeaten records intact.

All ten Eerste Divisie games tonight. Second-placed De Graafschap face a tough test at fourth-placed Excelsior, while top side Go Ahead Eagles face tenth-placed MVV, who have three victories from their last three games.

Seems that all Hoofdklasse matches in both days' divisions from now until the end of the season are pushed up a day - Sat. H. A top side Capelle will want to bounce back from last week's defeat against BVV Barendrecht with a victory today at ASWH. Similarly, Sat. Hoofdklasse B top side Sparta Nijkerk also suffered defeat in their last fixture - which they will look to reverse today.

Tonight's Eerste Divisie results:


Excelsior 2 - 1 De Graafschap
AGOVV Apeldoorn 2 - 0 Telstar
Veendam 1 - 1 RBC
Cambuur 1 - 0 Emmen
Den Bosch 1 - 1 Zwolle
FC Eindhoven 2 - 0 Omniworld
Volendam 1 - 2 Helmond Sport
Fortuna Sittard 2 - 0 TOP/Oss
Haarlem 0 - 3 Dordrecht


Four Eredivisie matches tomorrow, Twente can go undefeated in their first fourteen games of the season, if they avoid defeat against Vitesse.

Eredivisie results:

November 21
Roda JC - AZ                        2-4 
NAC Breda - NEC                  3-3 
RKC Waalwijk - FC Groningen 3-1 
FC Twente - Vitesse              1-0
 
November 22
Feyenoord - FC Utrecht          0-0 
VVV Venlo - Sparta              5-0 
Willem II - ADO Den Haag      1-1 
Ajax - SC Heerenveen            5-1 
PSV - Heracles Almelo          4-0


RKC's third win of the season means they're now within touching distance (2 points) of NEC in 17th place. There is still hope...
VVV's thrashing of Sparta moves them up to 10th place, but the gap between them and NEC in 17th place is still only two points.
Another win for FC Twente, which means they stay top of the table.

Reports are circulating that the job of Bayern Munich manager Louis van Gaal is under threat after just four months. Bayern have not won in their last four games, and exited yesterday's game against Bayer Leverkusen to a negative reaction from the crowd.

Today's Champions League result:


AZ 0 - 0 Olympiakos


This means that AZ have gone five Champions League games without a victory.

Today's Champions League result:


AZ 0 - 0 Olympiakos


This means that AZ have gone five Champions League games without a victory.


It also means that they're out of Champions League after the group matches are played (one more match to come).
If they win their final match they can still proceed in Europa League, though.

Stepping slightly further afield for a brief moment: Italian Lega Pro 1 (Serie C1) side Lumezzane have dumped Serie A side Atalanta, in seventeenth place and threatened with relegation, out of the Coppa Italia.

Tonight's results:

Eredivisie

Sparta 2 - 3 PSV

Eerste Divisie

Zwolle 1 - 0 Cambuur
De Graafschap 4 - 1 Haarlem
Dordrecht 2 - 0 Go Ahead Eagles
Emmen 4 - 1 FC Eindhoven
Omniworld 1 - 1 BV Veendam
Oss 1 - 2 Excelsior
Helmond Sport 2 - 1 Den Bosch
MVV 3 - 2 AGOVV
RBC 2 - 2 Volendam
Telstar 3 - 1 Fortuna Sittard


De Graafschap leapfrog Cambuur into second place. Emmen jump from bottom of the table to 17th with today's victory against Eindhoven, which pushes Eindhoven to 19th.

PSV jump Twente and occupy top spot, at least for the next 13 and a half hours. Four Eredivisie matches tomorrow. RKC are going for their third win from three games against Heerenveen.

Yesterday's Eredivisie results:


AZ 2 - 0 VVV
Heracles 3 - 2  Roda JC
Heerenveen 3 - 1 RKC
Willem II 1 - 3 Twente


That's ten wins from their last ten matches for Twente. Four matches today.

A whole bunch of postponed matches in the Hoofdklasse mean that IJsselmeervogels close the gap on H. Sat. B top side Sparta Nijkerk to just a single point.

Today's Eredivisie results:


Vitesse 1 - 5 Ajax
ADO Den Haag 0 - 2 Feijenoord
Utrecht 3 - 1 NAC
Groningen 2 - 2 NEC


NEC climb out of the relegation playoff places, dumping ADO Den Haag into said places.

Next week in the Eredivisie, four matches on Friday, and five matches on Sunday.

A bunch of "midweek" fixtures tomorrow in the Eerste Divisie. Top-of-the-table Go Ahead Eagles will want to bounce back after their defeat on Friday, while De Graafschap and Cambuur will be hoping that the Eagles slip up as they have a chance to occupy the top two places in the table if such an event occurs.

Baronie from H. Sunday B are four points behind top-placed Gemert, with two games in hand and an unbeaten record thus far. Sunday C bottom side SC Joure suffered a thrashing at the hands of WKE, who, thanks to the postponement of De Treffers' game at HSC 21, climb to second place in the table.

Yesterday's Eredivisie results:


AZ 2 - 0 VVV
Heracles 3 - 2  Roda JC
Heerenveen 3 - 1 RKC
Willem II 1 - 3 Twente


That's ten wins from their last ten matches for Twente. Four matches today.


The one goal from Ruiz means he's now scored in nine consecutive matches. Not a record, but he's getting closer (Pierre van Hooydonk managed to score in eleven consecutive matches).

Tonight's Eerste Divisie results:


AGOVV 2 - 0 Den Bosch
Veendam 3 - 0 Emmen
Excelsior 4 - 0 Dordrecht
Eindhoven 1 - 3 RBC
Oss 2 - 2 Omniworld
Volendam 0 - 1 De Graafschap
Fortuna Sittard 2 - 0 MVV
Go Ahead Eagles 3 - 2 Helmond Sport
Haarlem 1 - 2 Zwolle
Cambuur 1 - 1 Telstar


De Graafschap climb above Cambuur to second place in the table. Next ten Eerste Divisie fixtures on Friday.

Tonight's result:

Europa League

Timisoara 1 - 2 Ajax
Timisoara finished the gmae wtih nine men, and lost the match having gone ahead with just two minutes on the clock.


Tomorrow, PSV take on Sparta Prague.

Tonight's result:

Europa League

Timisoara 1 - 2 Ajax
Timisoara finished the gmae wtih nine men, and lost the match having gone ahead with just two minutes on the clock.



A rather pathetic performance by Ajax for most of the second half, not able to score against a considerably weakened opponent.
Luis Suarez managed to miss twice (!!) from the penalty spot. The final 25 minutes of the game were really just a farce, and a waste of time and money - although the Romanian fans were rather pleased of course, despite losing when they needed a win.

Ajax needed only a point to proceed to the next round, and they got three in the end. So all's well that ends well, I suppose. :-\\

Tonight's results from Europe:


Sporting Lisbon 1 - 1 Heerenveen
Heerenveen led until the last minute of the contest, so it would seem.
PSV 1 - 0 Sparta Prague
And here, a winning goal scored in the last minute of the match..


Four Eredivisie games tomorrow. However, neither unbeaten team, PSV or Twente, play until Sunday.

Ten Eerste Divisie matches tomorrow. No Eerste Divisie games taking place between December 20 and January 14, non-inclusive. And still another two and a half weeks until the last sixteen of the KNVB-Beker.

Tonight's results:

Eredivisie

VVV 2 - 1 Willem II
AZ 1 - 2 Vitesse
Roda 1 - 1 ADO Den Haag
NAC 2 - 2 Sparta

Eerste Divisie

Cambuur 0 - 0 Go Ahead Eagles
De Graafschap 3 - 0 Veendam
Den Bosch 2 - 0 Telstar
Dordrecht 2 - 1 Fortuna Sittard
FC Eindhoven 3 - 1 AGOVV
Emmen 2 - 4 Volendam
Zwolle 1 - 0 Excelsior
Helmond Sport 2 - 4 MVV
Haarlem 1 - 1 Oss
RBC 1 - 2 Omniworld


De Graafschap overtake Go Ahead Eagles and now occupy top spot in the Eerste Divisie. Omniworld scale the lofty heights of 15th in the table. Only two Eerste Divisie teams have won more than a single consecutive game in the league.

No Eredivisie games tomorrow, but five on Sunday. Positions 11 - 17 in the Eredivisie are separated by just a single point. Both Twente and PSV can keep their unbeaten records intact on Sunday. 21 Hoofdklasse games to keep us occupied, though, Door Ontwikkeling Tot Ontspanning are still winless in H. Sat. A.

Well, the inevitable has happened yesterday: Ronald Koeman, coach of AZ Alkmaar, has been given the sack.
After yet another disappointing performance against Vitesse (the team's 7th loss of the season) management of the team decided there was 'no longer a basis for continuing the cooperation'. Other staff members will take over Koeman's job temporarily.

Let's hope this works out for the better, but I doubt it.

Well, the inevitable has happened yesterday: Ronald Koeman, coach of AZ Alkmaar, has been given the sack.
After yet another disappointing performance against Vitesse (the team's 7th loss of the season) management of the team decided there was 'no longer a basis for continuing the cooperation'. Other staff members will take over Koeman's job temporarily.

Let's hope this works out for the better, but I doubt it.


Latest news is that on Saturday afternoon, only hours after Koeman was given the sack, Dick Advocaat has been approached for the job.
Advocaat is currently coaching the national team of Belgium, but since that team has failed to qualify for WC 2010, he has some time on his hands.

Former Chelsea assistant manager Henk ten Cate has been fired as coach of Panathanaikos. Greek Under-21 coach Nikos Nioplias has been named as his replacement.

Latest news is that on Saturday afternoon, only hours after Koeman was given the sack, Dick Advocaat has been approached for the job.
Advocaat is currently coaching the national team of Belgium, but since that team has failed to qualify for WC 2010, he has some time on his hands.


It's been confirmed that Dick Advocaat will take over for the remainder of the season.

It's too late to save AZ for Champions League, or even Europa League. The team drew on their final Champions League game (1 - 1) against Standard Liege, where they needed a win (to proceed to Europa League). Now there's nothing left but next season.

This week in the Eredivisie, one match on Friday, four matches on Saturday, and four matches on Sunday.

In the Eerste Divisie, eight matches on Friday, one on Saturday and one on Sunday.

Meanwhile, from here on in, Saturday Hoofdklasse matches switch to Fridays, while Sunday Hoofdklasse matches switch to Saturdays. Capelle will hope to bounce back from defeat in their last match with victory over three-from-three Noordwijk, IJsselmeervogels will be looking for an upturn in their fortunes, having dropped nine points from their last five games, and Excelsior 31 will be looking to tighten their grip on top spot in H. Sat. C.

Today's results:

Eredivisie

Ajax 3 - 0 NEC

Eerste Divisie

MVV 1 - 3 De Graafschap
AGOVV 0 - 0 Helmond Sport
Veendam 2 - 1 Zwolle
Excelsior 4 - 1 Emmen
Oss 0 - 1 RBC
Fortua Sittard 1 - 0 Den Bosch
Go Ahead Eagles 2 - 3 FC Eindhoven
Telstar 1 - 3 Dordrecht


Not much has happened, then in terms of the Eredivisie. NEC could have climbed to 16th with a point, but no such luck.

De Graafschap's lead at the top of the Eerste Divisie stretches to four points with their fourth consecutive victory.

Four Eredivisie matches tomorrow. Both PSV and Twente can extend their unbeaten records to 17 games this season.

Yesterday's Eredivisie results:


Heerenveen 0 - 2 Feijenoord
PSV 1 - 0 AZ
Twente 3 - 1 NAC
VVV 3 - 0 RKC


And one Eerste Divisie match:


Omniworld 1 - 5 Cambuur

Today's results:

Eredivisie

ADO Den Haag 1 - 4 Heracles
Sparta Rotterdam 2 - 4 Groningen
Vitesse 2 - 2 Utrecht
Willem II 1 - 3 Roda JC

Eerste Divisie

Volendam 5 - 0 Haarlem


With Roda and Groningen both winning, ADO Den Haag slip into the relegation play-off places, and Willem II are just a position above them.

Volendam jump up a place into twelfth, but Haarlem are still the worst team in the league, so, not much happened there.

Elsewhere, in H. Sun. B, Gemert, at the top of the table, lose their second consecutive game. Similarly, Achilles, at the top of H. Sun. C, lose a game themselves.

Yesterday's Eredivisie results:


Heerenveen 0 - 2 Feijenoord
PSV 1 - 0 AZ
Twente 3 - 1 NAC
VVV 3 - 0 RKC


And one Eerste Divisie match:


Omniworld 1 - 5 Cambuur



Ruiz scoring a tenth goal in ten consecutive matches. He's closing in on Pierre van Hooydonk's record (11 from 11).



Today's results:

Eredivisie

ADO Den Haag 1 - 4 Heracles
Sparta Rotterdam 2 - 4 Groningen
Vitesse 2 - 2 Utrecht
Willem II 1 - 3 Roda JC

Eerste Divisie

Volendam 5 - 0 Haarlem


With Roda and Groningen both winning, ADO Den Haag slip into the relegation play-off places, and Willem II are just a position above them.

Volendam jump up a place into twelfth, but Haarlem are still the worst team in the league, so, not much happened there.

Elsewhere, in H. Sun. B, Gemert, at the top of the table, lose their second consecutive game. Similarly, Achilles, at the top of H. Sun. C, lose a game themselves.


Halfway the competition, Twente are #1 while PSV hold on to #2 spot. It is also worth mentioning that Heracles are currently in 6th, still one place ahead of last year's champions AZ Alkmaar.

Speaking of AZ: there is a good chance that Co Adriaanse will become the team's coach next season.

Tonight's UEFA Cup results:


Heerenveen 5 - 0 Ventspils
CFR Cluj 0 - 2 PSV


One Eredivisie game on Friday, three on Saturday, five on Sunday.

Nine Eerste Divisie games on Friday, one on Sunday. This is the last set of Eerste Divisie fixtures before the Christmas break. Action will recommence on January 14. Same deal with the Eredivisie, though they don't return until January 20.

There are, however, KNVB Beker matches on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

Tonight's UEFA Cup results:


Heerenveen 5 - 0 Ventspils
CFR Cluj 0 - 2 PSV



Good results from both teams - especially for Heerenveen.




There are, however, KNVB Beker matches on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.


There are? I didn't know that.

Good results from both teams - especially for Heerenveen.



I just read that Herta BSC also won their final match, which means Heerenveen are out. Bummer. :(

There are? I didn't know that.

Yep, one game on December 21, two games on December 22, including Feijenoord v. AZ, and five games on December 23. Jong De Graafschap face NAC, the latter of whom have failed to win their last four games. So you could say there's no better time to face them.

Today's Dutch results:

Eredivisie

Heracles 1 - 0 VVV

Eerste Divisie

AGOVV 1 - 0 Fortuna Sittard
De Graafschap 1 - 4 Zwolle
Eindhoven 4 - 0 Oss
Haarlem 0 - 4 Cambuur


Five matches postponed in the Eerste Divisie. Cambuur overtake Go Ahead Eagles, whose match against Excelsior was postponed.

FC Eindhoven have three victories from their last three games, and are now in fourteenth position.

Three games in the Eredivisie tomorrow, Unfortunately, Willem II hang perilously over the relegation playoff positions.

Today's Dutch results:

Eredivisie

Heracles 1 - 0 VVV

Eerste Divisie

AGOVV 1 - 0 Fortuna Sittard
De Graafschap 1 - 4 Zwolle
Eindhoven 4 - 0 Oss
Haarlem 0 - 4 Cambuur


Five matches postponed in the Eerste Divisie.


Postponed matches are rescheduled for January 18, 2010.

It is worth mentioning that Zwolle hadn't won at De Graafschap in 32 years. :o

Results from December 19:


AZ 3 - 0 ADO Den Haag
Feijenoord 1 - 0 Willem II
RKC 4 - 1 Sparta


AZ remain in seventh, Twente and PSV remain undefeated thanks to them not playing this week. No more Eredivisie matches until January 17.

Today's Eerste Divisie game between Volendam and Telstar was also postponed. Next Eerste Divisie game on Thursday January 14. Today's six Hoofdklasse games were also postponed. Apparently Eerste Klasse Saturday D matches don't restart until February 19, while Saturday E matches restart on February 5.

The first of eight KNVB Beker last-16 matches occurs today. Baronie will be relishing the chance to face out-of-form Sparta in the second match of the round on Tuesday. Same deal with Jong De Graafschap, who face NAC, having squeaked past two Eerste Divisie teams in the last two rounds.

Results from December 19:


AZ 3 - 0 ADO Den Haag
Feijenoord 1 - 0 Willem II
RKC 4 - 1 Sparta


AZ remain in seventh, Twente and PSV remain undefeated thanks to them not playing this week. No more Eredivisie matches until January 17.


That's because Sunday's matches were all cancelled.

RKC's win (their fourth of the season) now brings them within touching range of NEC. Only one point separates the two.
Heracles' win on Friday means they move up to 5th place.

That's because Sunday's matches were all cancelled.

Gotcha. :D

KNVB Beker results:

Monday:


Heracles 0 - 2 Go Ahead Eagles

Today:


Baronie 0 - 5 Sparta
Feijenoord 1 - 0 AZ


Sad face. :(

Five KNVB Beker games tomorrow.

KNVB Beker results:

Monday:


Heracles 0 - 2 Go Ahead Eagles



Oops...

And some more 'Oops...'

KNVB Beker results, 23 November:
WHC  1 - 14 Ajax 
FC Groningen 0 - 2 NEC 
FC Twente 3 - 0 Helmond Sport 
Jong De Graafschap 0 - 2 NAC Breda 


The SC Heerenveen v PSV match was cancelled. Too much snow and ice perilously close to the edge on the roof of the stadium.


Ajax' victory over amateur side WHC is their biggest ever in KNVB Beker history.

Oh gosh, I hadn't seen that result until now. :D

Eredivisie has kicked off again. Sunday's results:

FC Utrecht 0 - 0 FC Twente
NAC 1 - 1 Ajax
NEC 2 - 1 Vitesse

NEC's victory take them out of the relegation zone (for now), while Twente's goalless draw means PSV can leapfrog them should they win their match against Roda JC (this Tuesday). This also implies that Ruiz hasn't scored, which means Pierre van Hooydonk gets to keep his record (of scoring 11 times in 11 consecutive matches).


Meanwhile, south of the border, Standard Liege lose to Anderlecht 0 to 4. The gap between the reigning champions (Standard) and the #1 (Anderlecht) is now 20 points...
But that's only half the story: at 0 - 2, Mbokaki missed a penalty for Standard (well, truth be told: it wasn't even a foul). Next, Axel Witsel took a red card for Standard, and then both Moussa Traoré and Eliaquim Mangala scored an own goal... No wonder the fans weren't pleased!

Update on the relegation/promotion scheme thingy stuff...

As of the next season (2010/2011), there will be two new so-called Topklassen (one for Sunday teams, one for Saturday teams) inbetween the Hoofdklassen (amateurs) and the Eerste Divisie (professionals). These Topklassen will consist of 16 teams each: 15 from the Hoofdklassen and one from the Eerste Divisie.
This means that at the end of this season, two teams will effectively relegate from Eerste Divisie.
Top 4 teams of each Hoofdklasse will automatically promote to the Topklasse. Numbers 5 and 6 of the Hoofdklassen will play each other for the remaining 8 spots.

Eerste Divisie results from January 18:


Den Bosch 4 - 0 Omniworld
Go Ahead Eagles 1 - 0 Excelsior
Helmond Sport 4 - 1 Veendam
RBC 4 - 1 Dordrecht
Volendam 6 - 2 Telstar

Eredivisie result from January 19:


Roda JC 0 - 1 PSV

Today's Eredivisie result:


Groningen 2 - 0 Heerenveen

Eredivisie result from January 19:


Roda JC 0 - 1 PSV



And so, PSV take the lead in the Eredivisie.

Some results...

Eredivisie

Wednesday 20 January
FC Groningen - SC Heerenveen      2-0 

Friday 22 January
PSV - NEC                                  3-0


Program for today & tomorrow:

Today:
18:45 Heracles Almelo - Vitesse 
19:45 SC Heerenveen - Willem II 
19:45 Roda JC - FC Utrecht
20:45 RKC Waalwijk - NAC Breda 

Tomorrow:
12:30 Ajax - AZ 
14:30 FC Groningen - FC Twente 
14:30 VVV Venlo - Feyenoord
14:30 Sparta - ADO Den Haag



Eerste Divisie

Friday 22 January:
Telstar - MVV                                2-1 
FC Oss - FC Volendam                  1-1 
FC Den Bosch - RBC Roosendaal    0-2 
Excelsior - Haarlem                        3-0 
SC Cambuur - BV Veendam            1-0 
Fortuna Sittard - FC Eindhoven        2-3 
FC Zwolle - FC Omniworld              2-0 
FC Emmen - FC Dordrecht              1-1 
De Graafschap - Helmond Sport      4-0

Cheers Henk. I've been behind on this thread, major style.

Yesterday's results:


Heracles 1 - 2 Vitesse
Roda 2 - 0 Utrecht
Heerenveen 4 - 2 Willem II
RKC 0 - 1 NAC


Willem II are just two points away from the dubious honour of having been both top and bottom of the Eredivisie table in the same season. Ajax v. AZ is live on ESPN UK this morning/afternoon. Might tune in to watch given that they're doing a freebie weekend.

Willem II are just two points away from the dubious honour of having been both top and bottom of the Eredivisie table in the same season. Ajax v. AZ is live on ESPN UK this morning/afternoon. Might tune in to watch given that they're doing a freebie weekend.



And it's Willem II vs RKC this weekend... ::)

Meanwhile, down in the basement of the Eerste Divisie, a very sad thing has happened:

HFC Haarlem has officially been declared bankrupt.
The second oldest soccer club of the Netherlands (founded 1889) had been struggling to find moneylenders for quite some time, and today the struggle came to an end. The club has been disqualified of competing in Eerste Divisie immediately, nullifying all results other teams have booked against them. This means that now FC Oss are holding last place in Eerste Divisie.

HFC Haarlem won the Dutch National Cup in 1902 and 1912 (there was no such thing as KNVB back then), and the overall Dutch championship in 1946.
In 1981/1982 season, the club ended fourth in Eredivisie, which meant qualification for UEFA Cup. They faced AA Gent in first round (a win and a draw) and Spartak Moscow in second round (two lost matches).
The following season, they ended fourth again, but that proved not enough to qualify for UEFA Cup that time.
After that, it slowly went downhill for Haarlem. Since 1990, the team played Eerste Divisie, with little to no success. HFC Haarlem were currently holding last place in Eerste Divisie, facing relegation to Topklasse at the end of this season.

One of the best known players ever to play for Haarlem was none other than Ruud Gullit, who started his professional career in Haarlem in 1979/1980 season. He last played for the team in 1981/1982 season, helping them to their historic 4th place. After that, he moved on to Feyenoord.

The bankruptcy of Haarlem is the fourth only in over 50 years of professional soccer in The Netherlands. The last two teams to disappear from the ranks of professionalism were VCV Zeeland and FC Wageningen, both in 1992.


One of the scarce highlights of the last 20 seasons: a goal by then goalie Mark Verzijlberg in 1995/1996 season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdLpz49jEe8

KNVB Beker results from Wednesday, January 27:


Ajax 3 - 2 NEC (AET)
NAC 1 - 2 Go Ahead Eagles
A good win for the highly-placed Eerste Divisie team over the strugglers from the Eredivisie.
Sparta 0 - 4 Twente
PSV 0 - 3 Feijenoord

Results from January 29:

Eredivisie

Willem II 2 - 1 RKC

Eerste Divisie

FC Eindhoven 3 - 1 Cambuur
Omniworld 1 - 0 Helmond Sport
Volendam 0 - 0 Fortuna Sittard
MVV 0 - 2 Zwolle
RBC 0 - 2 Excelsior

Yeah, we have been slacking again... :-[

Results from January 30:


NEC 1 - 0 Sparta
NAC 2 - 0 VVV
AZ 0 - 1 Groningen
ADO den Haag 2 - 1 Heerenveen

Now awaiting today's results... ::)

FC VVV - Heerenveen  3 - 1
NAC Breda - AZ          1 - 1

I think that's it.

Thursday's Eredivisie results:


RKC 0 - 1 Feijenoord

Today's results:

Eredivisie

Willem II 1 - 2 NAC

Eerste Divisie

Cambuur 1 - 1 AGOVV
Den Bosch 2 - 2 Veendam
Fortuna Sittard 2 - 1 Excelsior
Go Ahead Eagles 0 - 0 Volendam
Helmond Sport 2 - 0 Zwolle
MVV 1 - 0 Dordrecht
Telstar 1 - 2 Omniworld

Results from February 6:


PSV 2 - 0 ADO den Haag
Roda JC 2 - 1 Sparta
Heerenveen 2 - 0 Utrecht
Heracles 4 - 3 Groningen

Results from February 7:


RKC 0 - 1 NEC
Feijenoord 1 - 2 AZ
VVV 2 - 0 Vitesse
Ajax 3 - 0 Twente

Results from February 8:

Eerste Divisie

Oss 0 - 0 Go Ahead Eagles
Excelsior 4 - 1 Volendam
Dordrecht 0 - 3 Eindhoven
Omniworld 3 - 1 Emmen
Zwolle 6 - 1 RBC
MVV 2 - 2 Den Bosch
Telstar 0 - 2 De Graafschap

Mildly distracted by other matters. Some more results:

Results from February 12:

Eredivisie

NEC 4 - 2 NAC

Eerste Divisie

De Graafschap 2 - 3 Emmen
Omniworld 1 - 1 MVV
Volendam 0 - 1 AGOVV
Zwolle 1 - 0 Telstar

Results from February 13:

Eredivisie

ADO Den Haag 3 - 0 Willem II
AZ 2 - Roda JC
Heerenveen 0 - 2 Ajax
Vitesse 1 - 2 Twente

Results from February 14:

Eredivisie

Utrecht 0 - 0 Feijenoord
Heracles 0 - 1 PSV
Sparta Rotterdam 2 - 0 VVV
Groningen 2 - 1 RKC

Results from February 15:

Eerste Divisie

De Graafschap 0 - 0 RBC

Results from February 17:

Eredivise

NEC 2 - 1 Willem II

Results from February 18:

Europa League

Ajax 1 - 2 Juventus
Twente 1 - 0 Werder Bremen
Hamburger SV 1 - 0 PSV

Results from February 19:

Eredivisie

Roda JC 2 - 1 Heracles

Eerste Divisie

AGOVV 4 - 2 Excelsior
Den Bosch 0 - 3 De Graafschap
FC Eindhoven 0 - 1 Zwolle
Volendam 2 - 2 MVV
Fortuna Sittard 0 - 2 Emmen
Go Ahead Eagles 2 - 1 Telstar
Helmond Sport 3 - 0 RBC

Results from Saturday 20:


NAC 0 - 2 Utrecht
VVV 3 - 3 AZ
RKC 1 - 2 Heerenveen
NEC 0 - 2 Groningen

Results from Sunday 21:


Feijenoord 2 - 2 ADO Den Haag
Twente 1 - 0 Willem II
PSV 1 - 1 Sparta
Ajax 4 - 0 Vitesse

Results from February 18:

Europa League

Ajax 1 - 2 Juventus
Twente 1 - 0 Werder Bremen
Hamburger SV 1 - 0 PSV



Return results:

Juventus 0 - 0 Ajax
Werder Bremen 4 - 1 FC Twente
PSV 3 - 2 HSV Hamburg


And that implies that all Dutch teams are exit. Last time we lost all Dutch teams this early in European competitions was in 1985/1986 season.
It's official now: we suck.

Yesterday's results:

Eredivisie

ADO Den Haag 1 - 2 Roda JC

Eerste Divisie

De Graafschap 3 - 1 Excelsior
Emmen 2 - 4 Cambuur
Omniworld 3 - 1 FC Eindhoven
Oss 1 - 1 Fortuna Sittard
Zwolle 1 - 1 Den Bosch
Helmond Sport 5 - 2 Volendam
MVV 0 - 0 Go Ahead Eagles
RBC 2 - 2 Veendam
Telstar 1 - 2 AGOVV


That's three wins on the spin for top side De Graafschap. Fortuna Sittard climb one place into 17th, pushing Emmen to second-bottom.

Helmond Sport get their fourth victory in consecutive games, and climb into sixth place.

No, THESE are yesterday's results: ::)

SC Heerenveen - Heracles Almelo 1 - 2 
Vitesse - AZ                                0 - 3 
Willem II - VVV Venlo                  2 - 1


Heracles's 12th win of the season - that's a new club record. They're also still in play for spot in Europa League, which would be an absolute first for the club.
A good solid win for AZ, and three goals by El Hamdaoui who seems to be back in business.
And last but not least: three very important points go to Willem II.

RKC still in last position, trailing by 8 points now. I don't think they'll manage to bridge that gap.

On a sidenote: they're still without a draw this season.

No, THESE are yesterday's results: ::)

Now I'm confused. :D

Maybe I can't tell the time. Anyway. Eredivisie results from February 28:


Ajax 4 - 0 Utrecht
Groningen 2 - 3 Feijenoord
Twente 2 - 1 NEC
Sparta 2 - 2 NAC
PSV 5 - 1 RKC

Yesterday's Eerste Divisie results, with the exception of the one postponed match:


AGOVV 5 - 1 MVV
Excelsior 4 - 4 Oss
Den Bosch 2 - 1 Helmond Sport
FC Eindhoven 1 - 2 Emmen
Volendam 3 - 3 RBC
Fortuna Sittard 2 - 0 Telstar
Go Ahead Eagles 1 - 2 Dordrecht
Cambuur 3 - 0 Zwolle


Our postponed match was Veendam v. Omniworld. Omniworld, in spite of their lowly position in the table, are now five games unbeaten, which is more than can be said for all but one team in the league - the surging AGOVV Apeldoorn, who now have four wins in their last four games.

Four Eredivisie matches tomorrow, and five on Sunday. Our next Eerste Divisie matches are on Monday. First takes on third as De Graafschap face Cambuur. And eight others.

Today's Eredivisie results:


AZ 4 - 1 Heerenveen
ADO Den Haag 1 - 1 Vitesse
Heracles 3 - 2 Willem II
NAC 2 - 1 PSV


So... a defeat for the top side. That means that Twente have the chance to go top tomorrow, when they face RKC. Five games in total tomorrow.

Today's Eredivisie results:


AZ 4 - 1 Heerenveen
ADO Den Haag 1 - 1 Vitesse
Heracles 3 - 2 Willem II
NAC 2 - 1 PSV


So... a defeat for the top side. That means that Twente have the chance to go top tomorrow, when they face RKC. Five games in total tomorrow.


Yep. First defeat for PSV in about a year in Dutch competition. I bet they nearly forgot how it felt.

Yesterday's Eredivisie results:


Roda JC 2 - 4 Feijenoord
Sparta 0 - 3 Ajax
Utrecht 1 - 0 NEC
RKC 0 - 1 Twente
Groningen 1 - 0 VVV


Thus, Twente bounce to the top of the table.

Yesterday's Eredivisie results:


Roda JC 2 - 4 Feijenoord
Sparta 0 - 3 Ajax
Utrecht 1 - 0 NEC
RKC 0 - 1 Twente
Groningen 1 - 0 VVV


Thus, Twente bounce to the top of the table.

Tonight's Eerste Divisie results. One match postponed, Den Bosch v. Volendam:


De Graafschap 3 - 0 Cambuur
Dordrecht 0 - 1 Oss
Omniworld 2 - 0 Go Ahead Eagles
Zwolle 2 - 2 AGOVV
Helmond Sport 0 - 0 Fortuna Sittard
MVV 2 - 2 Eindhoven
RBC 1 - 1 Emmen
Telstar 1 - 2 Excelsior


Peeking at the table... that's four wins from the last four for De Graafschap, who have gained eight more points in their last three games than second-placed side Go Ahead Eagles. Cambuur, who were also defeated, stay in third. Omniworld, in fourteenth, stretch to five wins from six.

The semi-finals of the KNVB Beker take place on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 March. Feijenoord face Twente, while Go Ahead Eagles face Ajax, who squeaked past NEC despite trailing with ten minutes of extra time remaining. The Eerste Divisie side may seek some comfort from that. Or they may not. I guess it's their decision.

Yesterday's Eredivisie results:


Roda JC 2 - 4 Feijenoord
Sparta 0 - 3 Ajax
Utrecht 1 - 0 NEC
RKC 0 - 1 Twente
Groningen 1 - 0 VVV


Thus, Twente bounce to the top of the table.


RKC are still without a draw this season... If they continue their streak, they will match a record set by Ajax in 1972/1973 season. Of course, Ajax ended top of the table that season... ::)
RKC are still heading for a sad record number of losses in Eredivisie... Currently, the record stands at 28 (RBC Roosendaal, 2000/2001), but with RKC having won only four times so far it is still possible for them to lose 29 or even 30 games.

Another win for FC Twente yesterday evening (3 - 1 against ADO Den Haag) means they stay top of the table.

Fastest goal this season for Wesley Verhoek (ADO), who scored the opening goal after only 10 seconds.


Tomorrow it's numbers 2 (PSV) and 3 (Ajax) of the table playing each other. Who will win? Or will it be a draw?

I had missed out on reporting yesterday's Eredivisie result. Bear with me and I'll post the Eerste Divisie results.

Yesterday's Eerste Divisie results:

AGOVV 0 - 2 Omniworld
Excelsior 3 - 0 MVV
FC Eindhoven 3 - 2 Helmond Sport
Emmen 3 - 2 Telstar
Volendam 4 - 3 Veendam
Fortuna Sittard 0 - 2 De Graafschap
Cambuur 3 - 0 Dordrecht

Two Eerste Divisie games on Sunday. Four Eredivisie games today, four on Sunday.

Eredivisie results from March 13:


AZ 6 - 2 RKC
NAC 0 - 3 Groningen
NEC 0 - 2 Roda JC
VVV 0 - 1 Utrecht

Results from Sunday 14:

Eredivisie

Willem II 3 - 1 Sparta
Vitesse 0 - 1 Heerenveen
Feijenoord 1 - 1 Heracles
Ajax 4 - 1 PSV

Eerste Divisie

Go Ahead Eagles 1 - 0 Zwolle
Oss 1 - 3 Den Bosch

Results from Monday 15:

Eerste Divisie

Veendam 2 - 1 Dordrecht
AGOVV 3 - 1 Emmen

Results from Friday 19:

Eredivisie

Heerenveen 4 - 1 NEC

Eerste Divisie

De Graafschap 4 - 1 Volendam
Den Bosch 1 - 0 AGOVV
Dordrecht 0 - 1 Excelsior
Emmen 2 - 2 Veendam
Omniworld 0 - 1 Oss
Helmond Sport 0 - 1 Go Ahead Eagles
MVV 2 - 1 Fortuna Sittard
Telstar 1 - 2 Cambuur
RBC 4 - 0 FC Eindhoven


Oss are now off the bottom of the table, and are replaced by Telstar.

Today's results:


Willem II 0 - 3 Utrecht
PSV 1 - 1 Twente
Heracles 3 - 0 NAC
Feijenoord v. Vitesse - match abandoned


The lower match was suspended at half time due to heavy rain. All in all means that Heracles leapfrog AZ into fifth place. Meanwhile, neither PSV or Twente come out on top in their top-two clash. PSV have just one win in their last five games, having gone so much of the season unbeaten.

RKC play Ajax tomorrow - a great chance for the side to keep up their record of no draws so far this season. ;) The last time RKC drew a competitive league match was almost a year ago - in the Eerste Divisie against fellow promotion side VVV. Last Sunday Ajax conceded their first goal in 645 minutes of Eredivisie football. Three other games along with this one.

In Saturday Hoofdklasse A - Capelle suffer thier third defeat of the season, and if BVV Barendrecht win their game in hand on Tuesday, they can jump to the top of the table. Sat. Hoofd. B saw top side IJsselmeervogels win 6 - 1 against bottom side Bennekom. And in Sat. Hoofd. C, Harkemase Boys lose, allowing Excelsior 31 to open up a five-point gap at the top.

Standout result of the Sat. Eerste Klasse, an 8-0 win for Young Boys, stretching their record to ten consecutive wins. Oddly, fellow Saturday B side Vitesse Delft, who went nine for nine at the start of the season, have lost six of their last seven. They have been leapfrogged into top position today by Voorschoten 97, who beat Zwaluwen V earlier.

Eredivisie results from March 21:


RKC 1 - 5 Ajax
ADO Den Haag 0 - 0 VVV
Sparta 0 - 1 AZ
Groningen 1 - 0 Roda JC

Must catch up on results! Been slacking!

Eerste Divisie results from March 22:


Den Bosch 3 - 0 Volendam
Veendam 4 - 1 Oss
Emmen 2 - 1 MVV

Results from March 25:


Veendam 3 - 0 AGOVV

Results from March 26:

Eredivisie

NAC 3 - 0 ADO Den Haag

Eerste Divisie

Excelsior 1 - 2 Helmond Sport
Dordrecht 0 - 3 Zwolle
FC Eindhoven 1 - 1 Den Bosch
Oss 1 - 3 De Graafschap
Fortuna Sittard 2 - 2 Omniworld
Cambuur 3 - 0 Volendam
Telstar 2 - 2 RBC

Results from March 27:

Eredivisie

Vitesse 2 - 1 Willem II
Roda JC 4 - 2 Heerenveen
AZ 3 - 2 Heracles
Twente 3 - 0 Sparta

Eerste Divisie

Veendam 1 - 0 MVV

Results from March 28:

Eredivisie

NEC 0 - 0 Feijenoord
VVV 2 - 4 PSV
Utrecht 2 - 0 RKC
Ajax 3 - 0 Groningen

Eerste Divisie

Go Ahead Eagles 0 - 2 Emmen

Results from March 29:

Eerste Divisie

Cambuur 8 - 1 Oss
Including a hat-trick by Suriname-born Dutchman Mark de Vries, formerly of Leicester City and Leeds United.

Results from March 30:

Eerste Divisie

Veendam 0 - 1 Omniworld

Results from March 31:

Eredivisie

Feijenoord 2 - 1 Vitesse

Results from April 2:

Eerste Divisie

Veendam 2 - 1 Excelsior
Den Bosch 4 - 4 Emmen
Emmen trail by three, pull four goals back, and just as they thought they had grabbed the three points... two of them get snatched away...
Omniworld A - A Dordrecht
Volendam 0 - 2 FC Eindhoven
Zwolle 0 - 0 Oss
Helmond Sport 0 - 1 Telstar
MVV 2 - 1 Cambuur
RBC 0 - 2 AGOVV

Results from April 2:

Eerste Divisie

Veendam 2 - 1 Excelsior
Den Bosch 4 - 4 Emmen
Emmen trail by three, pull four goals back, and just as they thought they had grabbed the three points... two of them get snatched away...
Omniworld A - A Dordrecht
Volendam 0 - 2 FC Eindhoven
Zwolle 0 - 0 Oss
Helmond Sport 0 - 1 Telstar
MVV 2 - 1 Cambuur
RBC 0 - 2 AGOVV



Veendam are doing quite good, considering their financial problems. They've filed for suspension of payments earlier this week (the three sponsors that agreed on saving the club couldn't reach an agreement...). So there's a good chance the club will go down after all. :-\\

The Omniworld match was abandonded after the lighting installion broke down for unkown reasons, and couldn't be fixed in time.

Randomness: My local side Shrewsbury Town picked up former HFC Haarlem player Benjamin van den Broek in February. Since he has been picked up, he has played three games for the side, and Shrewsbury have failed to score in each. Sad face.

Such is the oddness of football — two Eerste Klasse teams, one with one win in their last seven (RKSV Groene Star) and one with one win in their last nine (Sparta 25) play out a nine-goal match. :D

Such is the oddness of football — two Eerste Klasse teams, one with one win in their last seven (RKSV Groene Star) and one with one win in their last nine (Sparta 25) play out a nine-goal match. :D


Groene Ster plus lots of goals = win. Although it's not always a win for Groene Ster (ask Willem II!) ;D :D

Eredivisie, April 9:

RKC Waalwijk 4 - 1 Vitesse Arnhem


Shock and surprise. Fifth win of the season for RKC. The team are still not officially relegated. We'll have to wait and see what Willem II and ADO Den Haag do this weekend.

Cheers for the update, Henk - busy elsewhere last night. Yesterday's Eerste Divisie results:


Cambuur 1 - 0 Den Bosch
Dordrecht 0 - 1 Helmond Sport
Excelsior 4 - 1 FC Eindhoven
Fortuna Sittard 2 - 0 Go Ahead Eagles
MVV 2 - 1 RBC
Omniworld 0 - 5 De Graafschap
Oss 1 - 0 AGOVV
Telstar 1 - 1 Veendam
Zwolle 4 - 2 Volendam


De Graafschap win their ninth consecutive game. Go Ahead Eagles lose their third in a row. Oss win their first in five, having had fifteen goals put past them in the intervening period.

Eredivisie results from Saturday 10:


Twente 2 - 0 Heerenveen
NEC 0 - 0 AZ
NAC 1 - 0 Roda
Sparta 1 - 1 Heracles

Results from Sunday 11:


PSV 0 - 0 Feijenoord
Utrecht 0 - 2 ADO Den Haag
Ajax 7 - 0 VVV
Groningen 4 - 0 Willem II


ADO Den Haag bounce out of the relegation playoff zones, dumping Sparta in there.

Today's Eerste Divisie result:


Omniworld 1 - 1 Dordrecht


First goal, and first point, in over four and a half hours play for Dordrecht.

Today's games:


Heracles 4 - 1 RKC
Vitesse 1 - 1 NAC
AZ 1 - 0 Twente


Six Eredivisie fixtures tomorrow.

Today's games:


Heracles 4 - 1 RKC
Vitesse 1 - 1 NAC
AZ 1 - 0 Twente


Six Eredivisie fixtures tomorrow.


I think this means RKC are officially relegated now.

Vitesse aren't really helping themselves. One point is not good enough.

So Twente lost their match against AZ... That's good news for AZ, good news for Ajax, good news for PSV, and good news for anyone in general that likes excitement. But it's not good news for Twente, and it's not good news for me.  :( I was afraid something like this was gonna happen.

Indeed - an eight-point gap at the bottom of the table, and just one record to hope for now - that is, the no-draws-in-a-season thing. Possibly more importantly for ADO Den Haag is that they climb out of the relegation playoff places. And, after this week of fixtures, we move into our couple of complete sets on a Sunday. Willem II face AZ in the first of these - and Willem II have won just a single one of the last ten games between the two sides.

Indeed - an eight-point gap at the bottom of the table, and just one record to hope for now - that is, the no-draws-in-a-season thing.


No, there's still chance of another record: a record number of losses in one season. They only need one (for a tie) or two (to set a newrecord). And coincidentally, there's only two matches left! :D


Possibly more importantly for ADO Den Haag is that they climb out of the relegation playoff places. And, after this week of fixtures, we move into our couple of complete sets on a Sunday. Willem II face AZ in the first of these - and Willem II have won just a single one of the last ten games between the two sides.


But first tonight, it's Willem II vs. Ajax. Can they pull a stunt..?  :-\\

But first tonight, it's Willem II vs. Ajax. Can they pull a stunt..?  :-\\


The answer: no. Willem II lose 0 to 2.

Willem II are now almost sure to play relegation/promotion play-offs. Sad face.

In Eerste Divisie, FC Oss and Telstar share the points and the goals (one apiece) in a head-to-head confrontation in the fight for relegation. Both teams now have 29 points, but with Telstar having the better goal difference that team is placed 18th.
And with Fortuna Sittard losing their match against BV Veendam (which means they are stuck at 30 points), it's still anyone's guess which one of those three teams will relegate to Topklasse. Only one round of play left...


A quick look at the Hoofdklasse standings reveals that, with 4 rounds of play left, there's still everything to play for (although in Saturday Hoofdklasse A it's pretty much between two teams).

No, there's still chance of another record: a record number of losses in one season. They only need one (for a tie) or two (to set a newrecord). And coincidentally, there's only two matches left! :D

Ah of course. Silly me. :D

Results from April 14:


Willem II 0 - 2 Ajax
Roda JC 4 - 2 VVV
Feijenoord 3 - 0 Sparta
Heerenveen 2 - 2 PSV
ADO Den Haag 2 - 3 NEC
Utrecht 1 - 1 Groningen

Eerste Divisie results from April 16:


AGOVV 0 - 2 Dordrecht
Excelsior 5 - 1 Den Bosch
Eindhoven 2 - 6 De Graafschap
Emmen 0 - 3 Zwolle
Oss 1 - 1 Telstar
Volendam 3 - 0 Omniworld
Fortuna Sittard 0 - 1 Veendam
Go Ahead Eagles 3 - 1 RBC
Cambuur 2 - 0 Helmond Sport

No results today from the top two leagues. In Hoofdklasse Saturday B, the top two face off, with Sparta Nijkerk hopping over IJsselmeervogels into first place. VV Bennekom, in the same division, are just three games away from mirroring RKC and finishing the season without a single draw to their credit.

Dutch Cup Final (Feyenoord vs. Ajax) will be played in two matches, instead of one. First leg this weekend.

Do you have any idea how often Ajax and Feyenoord faced each other before in the Cup Final...? ::)

Dutch Cup Final (Feyenoord vs. Ajax) will be played in two matches, instead of one. First leg this weekend.

Do you have any idea how often Ajax and Feyenoord faced each other before in the Cup Final...? ::)


Yes, that's right. This is only the second time.

First time was in 1980, when Feyenoord beat Ajax 3 to 1. I'm sure Ajax are after a better result this time.

Last round of play in Jupiler League (Eerste Divisie) is currently underway. The final battle to avoid relegation...

Scores (that matter) as of now:

FC Zwolle 1 - 0 Fortuna Sittard
MVV Maastricht 1 - 1 FC Oss
Telstar 0 - 1 FC Eindhoven

Which means that at this point, Telstar are virtually relegated. But one goal can make a huge difference.

And no sooner have I said that, or Telstar have equalized!

So now it's FC Oss in danger of direct relegation. I think.

Half Time scores (that matter):

FC Zwolle 1 - 0 Fortuna Sittard
MVV Maastricht 1 - 1 FC Oss
Telstar 1 - 1 FC Eindhoven

Fortuna Sittard, FC Oss and Telstar now all have 30 points. But FC Oss has the worst goal difference.

FC Zwolle have scored a second against Fortuna Sittard.

Now if both FC Oss and Telstar manage to win, it will be Fortuna that relegates.

Now if both FC Oss and Telstar manage to win, it will be Fortuna that relegates.


Quite unlikely, I agree.

Quite unlikely, I agree.


Even more so now FC Eindhoven have once again taken the lead against Telstar. At this point, Telstar are relegated.

Even more so now FC Eindhoven have once again taken the lead against Telstar. At this point, Telstar are relegated.


Telstar can only hope MVV will score against FC Oss. Which would put Oss in misery.

Still over half an hour of play left, so basically anything is still possible.

Still over half an hour of play left, so basically anything is still possible.


Well, of course neither team has a chance of becoming champion this season, but you know what I mean... ::)

I wouldn't like seeing Telstar relegated. I don't care much for FC Oss, on the other hand.

I wouldn't like seeing Telstar relegated. I don't care much for FC Oss, on the other hand.


But of course, you can't always get what you want.

Holy macaroly!  :o MVV have scored twice against FC Oss. :D

Holy macaroly!  :o MVV have scored twice against FC Oss. :D


I can't be sure, but I think this seals the fate of FC Oss.

I can't be sure, but I think this seals the fate of FC Oss.


If it wasn't already, it is now: MVV score a fourth.

Meanwhile, champions De Graafschap are really slacking. They're trailing AGOVV 2 to 3.

Less than 15 minutes of play left now, I suppose.

Meanwhile, champions De Graafschap are really slacking. They're trailing AGOVV 2 to 3.


Silly boys. AGOVV made it 2 to 4. ::)

Silly boys. AGOVV made it 2 to 4. ::)


But then, De Graafschap pull one back.

I honestly am following what's going on - it's just that Soccerway is having issues with updating..

But then, De Graafschap pull one back.


Ah, I see De Graafschap are down to ten men. Hadn't noticed until now.

I honestly am following what's going on - it's just that Soccerway is having issues with updating..


I'm on ESPN and Voetbalzone.nl.

Looks like bottom three teams are all losing their final match. Which is bad news for FC Oss.

But then, De Graafschap pull one back.


What the..?!?! AGOVV score a FIFTH! :o

FC Zwolle have scored a third against Fortuna Sittard. Not that it matters much anymore.

FC Zwolle have scored a third against Fortuna Sittard. Not that it matters much anymore.


Full Time scores:

FC Zwolle 3 - 0 Fortuna Sittard
MVV        4 - 1 FC Oss

Full Time scores:

MVV        4 - 1 FC Oss


I stand corrected. The final score was updated to make it 5 - 1 for MVV.

Let's see..

And finally:

Stormvogels Telstar 1 - 2 FC Eindhoven

Unless I'm very much mistaken, this means FC Oss are relegated to Topklasse.

Ooh, it's the first leg of the final of the KNVB Beker on Sunday.

Let's see..


See what? ???

Ooh, it's the first leg of the final of the KNVB Beker on Sunday.


Yes, it is. Quite odd, to have two legs this time.

Yes, it is. Quite odd, to have two legs this time.


Although, when you think about it...there's nothing odd about two. :D ;D

Ajax have won every one of their games since the semi-final victory over Go Ahead Eagles, while Feijenoord have two wins, three draws and a loss.

Although, when you think about it...there's nothing odd about two. :D ;D

Ah, but it is very prime!

Ajax have scored their hundredth goal of the season in their win against Heracles.

Ajax have won every one of their games since the semi-final victory over Go Ahead Eagles, while Feijenoord have two wins, three draws and a loss.


The odds (!) are very much in favor of Ajax. ::)

Ajax have scored their hundredth goal of the season in their win against Heracles.


Hundred-plus goals, only three losses, and yet... no championship? We'll have to wait and see.