Dordrecht won a five-goal thriller at the M-Scores Stadion, beating Almere City FC 3-2 in an Eerste Divisie encounter that swung one way and then the other before the home side finally closed it out in the closing stages. It was a result that underlined Dordrecht's growing reputation as one of the most watchable attacking teams in the Dutch second tier, and it left Almere City ruing a second-half revival that came close to stealing a point on the road.

Match overview

Played in front of a lively home crowd, the game had everything the Eerste Divisie is known for: quick transitions, committed pressing and goals at both ends. Dordrecht started with intent, pushing their full-backs high and asking Almere City's back line to defend in wide areas. The visitors, traditionally organised and comfortable in possession, initially tried to slow the tempo and play through midfield, but the home side's aggression in the opening half hour set the tone for the night.

How the game unfolded

• 12th minute – 1-0 Dordrecht: A quick turnover in midfield released the home side down the right, and the cut-back was finished calmly at the near post to open the scoring.
• 28th minute – 2-0 Dordrecht: Almere City failed to clear a corner, and a second ball into the box was turned home from close range as the pressure told.
• 52nd minute – 2-1: The visitors came out of the break with far more purpose, and a well-worked move down the left ended with a composed finish inside the penalty area.
• 67th minute – 3-1 Dordrecht: A direct counter-attack restored the two-goal cushion, with the home side's forward breaking through the middle and finishing low beyond the goalkeeper.
• 81st minute – 3-2: Almere City set up a tense finale when a substitute's shot from the edge of the box found the net, but Dordrecht saw out the remaining minutes with discipline.

Tactical story

Dordrecht's approach was built on verticality. Their midfielders looked forward first, and the front three rotated constantly to pull Almere City's centre-backs out of position. The early goals came from exactly that pattern — quick ball recovery, an immediate pass into the channel, and runners arriving in the box. Almere City's response after half-time was notable: they pushed their wingers higher, committed an extra body into midfield and forced Dordrecht to defend deeper than they would have liked.

For a period in the second half, the game looked like it might slip away from the hosts. Almere City's ball circulation improved, the second goal arrived, and the away side suddenly had momentum. That Dordrecht were able to respond with a third goal of their own says much about the character of this squad: they did not retreat into a shell, but instead attacked the space Almere City left behind when they committed players forward.

Standout performers

Dordrecht's attacking players will take the headlines, and rightly so, but the game was arguably decided in midfield, where the home side's engine room repeatedly won second balls and turned defensive work into scoring opportunities. Up front, the movement and finishing on display gave Almere City's defenders a punishing evening. For the visitors, Thomas Robinet's presence in the final third was a constant problem in the second half, and his side's improved spell after the interval will give their coaching staff something to build on despite the defeat.

What it means in the Eerste Divisie

Three points lift Dordrecht's momentum in a division where the margins between the play-off places and mid-table are famously small. The Eerste Divisie rewards squads that can score consistently, and a 3-2 win — even a nervy one — adds to the sense that Dordrecht are capable of competing with the stronger sides in the league. For Almere City, the defeat is a reminder of how punishing the Dutch second tier can be: they scored twice away from home and still left empty-handed.

The result also reinforces a wider pattern in the division, where home advantage and fast starts continue to matter enormously. Dordrecht's ability to score first, and to answer when their lead was threatened, is exactly the profile of a team that could be involved in the promotion conversation if they maintain this level of attacking output through the autumn and winter months.