Heracles Almelo gained three very important points from the home match once morest Vitesse: 3-2. The guests seemed to be heading for a win, but a second yellow card for Nicolas Isimat-Mirin turned the game around. The Almelo goals were scored by Jizz Hornkamp (2x) and Jordy Bruijn.
The first pinpricks came from Vitesse. Amine Boutrah aimed over the goal in the eleventh minute and saw a bet disappear into the side net three minutes later. Heracles Almelo saw Sven Sonnenberg drop out quickly and fell behind in the 24th minute due to a striking header from Kacper Kozlowski.
Heracles Almelo had barely recovered from the hit when the 0-2 was a fact. Three minutes later, Melle Meulensteen was allowed to take a swing unhindered from a great distance, leaving Michael Brouwer without a chance. Erwin van de Looi’s formation came up with an answer following exactly half an hour of play. Frederik Oppegård provided the cross and Jordy Bruijn was able to finish with a neat slide.
The tying goal did not really change the match picture. Vitesse kept the initiative and became dangerous once more in the 38th minute. Paxten Aaronson’s shot was saved by Michael Brouwer. Heracles Almelo was unable to enforce much apart from Bruijn’s goal, but gained a numerical majority just before half time thanks to a second yellow card for Nicolas Isimat-Mirin.
Comeback
It was up to Heracles Almelo to play out the majority in the second half and Bryan Limbombe had to provide the game with new impulses. The first opportunity was for Vitesse. Mexx Meerdink’s shot in the 52nd minute was saved by Michael Brouwer. Four minutes later, Heracles Almelo finally managed to reach Eloy Room’s goal. The Arnhem goalie first parried Jizz Hornkamp’s shot and then Jordy Bruijn’s rebound. The subsequent corner kick made it 2-2. Jizz Hornkamp was able to head in beautifully.
Heracles Almelo went on the hunt for more and in the 66th minute Jordy Bruijn’s effort went wide. He was replaced shortly followingwards by Mario Engels. Erwin van de Looi’s formation took the lead in the 71st minute. Emil Hansson swung the ball into the enemy box. Jizz Hornkamp headed back. The ball initially seemed to be turned into his own goal by Dominik Oroz, but Hornkamp was eventually credited with the goal.
Heracles Almelo was given more and more space and that provided opportunities. A shot by Emil Hansson in the 78th minute was saved by Eloy Room and three minutes later a long shot by Jannes Wieckhoff went wide. Emil Hansson had another shooting opportunity in the 85th minute, but this time he aimed over. Five minutes later the left winger tried once more. Eloy Room managed to parry the shot. The last chance was for Bryan Limbombe. He aimed just wide.
