Den Bosch Fall 3-2 to Almere City FC in Eerste Divisie Classic

A five-goal thriller at the Stadion De Vliert saw Den Bosch lose 3-2 to Almere City FC in the Netherlands Eerste Divisie on April 30, 2026. The match swung back and forth before Almere’s superior finishing decided the contest.

The visitors struck first in the 12th minute when winger Ryan van de Pavert cut inside and fired low into the near post. Den Bosch responded quickly through striker Jelle Schrijvers, who headed home from a corner in the 28th minute. The home side took the lead just four minutes later when defender Timo van der Kooij volleyed in from a half-cleared cross.

Second Half Drama

Almere City came out strongly after the interval. Their equalizer came in the 58th minute via a deflected shot from midfielder Koen Westerveld. The winner arrived in the 77th minute when substitute forward Milan van der Plas capitalized on a defensive mix-up to tap into an empty net.

Tactical Breakdown

• Den Bosch’s 3-5-2 formation created overloads in midfield but left spaces in behind for Almere’s wingers to exploit.
• Almere City’s patient build-up eventually wore down the Den Bosch defense, particularly in the second half.
• Set-piece vulnerability cost Almere early, but they tightened up after the break to concede no further corners.

Standout Players

Almere City FC: Midfielder Koen Westerveld controlled the game’s tempo and scored the crucial equalizer. Den Bosch: Winger Lars Biekman created both home goals and was a constant threat down the left flank.

Table Implications

The victory lifts Almere City FC into fifth place in the Eerste Divisie standings, keeping their promotion playoff hopes firmly alive. Den Bosch drop to twelfth, now seven points off the top six. With six matches remaining, Den Bosch face an uphill battle to re-enter the playoff race, while Almere look poised to challenge for automatic promotion.