Willem II beat Helmond Sport in the KNVB Cup

◆3 sources

Willem II beat Helmond Sport 4-3 away in the KNVB Cup, securing its first win of the season despite a late comeback by the home side. Helmond Sport took an early lead through Michel Ludwig after Finn Stam lost the ball, but Devin Haen equalised with an overhead kick. Willem II then moved ahead through Emre Gürbüz and added a fourth through Tonny Vilhena after the break.

Helmond Sport reduced the deficit to 2-4, while Willem II's Jaden Slory was sent off for a hard tackle. Labinot Bajrami then scored his second goal to make it 3-4 shortly before the end, but Helmond Sport did not force extra time and was eliminated.

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Willem II lost 1-6 to SC Cambuur

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Willem II lost 1-6 at home to SC Cambuur in Adrie Koster’s first match as interim coach, following John Stegeman’s dismissal. Thomas Didillon-Hödl returned from injury in goal, but Cambuur led 3-0 after 18 minutes through Nicolas Binder, Ilyès Hamache and Ismaël Baouf. Binder scored again after the break, before Didillon-Hödl’s error led to Cambuur’s fifth goal. Substitute Anass Zarrouk pulled one back, and Jason Çeka scored the visitors’ final goal. The result left Willem II without a league win after 10 matches and on two points. Captain Hidde ter Avest said the players shared responsibility for Stegeman’s departure and that the side had not stayed together after conceding early. Koster said he had expected more, while stressing that he had had only two days with the players. Willem II then beat Helmond Sport 4-3 in the first round of the KNVB Cup, ending a run of 10 matches without a victory.

Sports

JOS Watergraafsmeer against NAC Breda in the KNVB Cup

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Fourth-tier side JOS Watergraafsmeer played NAC Breda in the first round of the KNVB Cup at AFC's Sportpark Goed Genoeg in Amsterdam, after its own floodlights did not meet the requirements for a televised match. NAC took the lead through Gabriel Misehouy after an error by JOS goalkeeper Mathijs Jan Swaneveld, but Jari Luca Polm equalised. Paul Gladon restored NAC's lead from a free kick just before half-time.

Sports

FC Utrecht’s win over FC Twente

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FC Utrecht won 2-1 away to FC Twente in the Eredivisie. Daouda Weidmann put Twente ahead, but Ángel Alarcón scored twice after half-time for Utrecht. The match was briefly stopped after cups were thrown onto the pitch. It was FC Twente’s first home league defeat of the season and left the club fifth after nine rounds, rather than moving into the top three. Goalkeeper Sergio Padt, making his Eredivisie return for Utrecht, made several late saves to preserve the result.

Sports

Willem II's defeat at FC Utrecht

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Willem II lost 3-1 away to FC Utrecht after the international break, extending its wait for a first Eredivisie victory of the season. The defeat was Willem II's eighth league match without a win and left the Tilburg club at the bottom of the table. The result increased concerns around Willem II, which faces another away match at Sparta next. A separate report said the club closed the 2025-26 financial year with a loss of €330,000, linked to its sporting success.