In the second home match of this season, Heracles Almelo did not get further than a 1-1 draw. A good attack resulted in a 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute, but Willem II shot the equalizer, and also the final score, into the net shortly afterwards.
In a sunny and windy Almelo, the kick-off against promoted Willem II took place at 14:30. Heracles Almelo started strongly and got to play well. Brian de Keersmaecker put one cross pass after another on the mat and that led to a number of promising attempts. Fifteen minutes before half-time, there was another good attack by Heracles Almelo. Mario Engels received the ball, put it in front and Juho Tavitie shot his first goal in the Eredivisie.
After the first thirty minutes of play this was a nice lead that unfortunately was short-lived. Five minutes later a deflected corner led to Willem II’s equalizer and that turned out to be the half-time score.
After the break, Willem II immediately seemed to take a 1-2 lead. From the scramble, the ball was worked over the goal line, but Behounek was offside. For Heracles Almelo, Shiloh ‘t Zand had a few chances from a great distance, but each time the keeper from Tilburg proved to be an obstacle. Fabian de Keijzer also kept a good goal and kept his goal clean in the second half.
Half an hour before the end, the newest signing of Heracles Almelo made his debut. Suf Podgoreanu was immediately dangerous and that led to Heracles Almelo coming close to 2-1, but Engels placed the ball on the top of the crossbar. Willem II came up well towards the end of the match, but Damon Mirani was very important on Almelo’s side with his tackles and slides and kept the score at 1-1.
Heracles Almelo – Willem II: 1-1
33. Talvitie (1-0)
37. Bosch (1-1)
Yellow cards: Roosken, Bosch, Engels, Sigurgeirsson, Lachkar.
Heracles Almelo line-up: The Emperor, Benita, Mirani, Mesik, Roosken, De Keersmaecker, Van Kaam (58. Scheperman), ‘t Zand, Talvitie, Engels, Limbombe (58. Podgoreanu).
Willem II line-up: Didillon, Tirpan, Behounek, St. Jago, Sigurgeirsson, Doodeman (79. Vermeulen), Bosch, Lachkar, Meerveld, Vaesen (79. Bokila), Sandra.