Dordrecht 2-4 VVV Venlo: Visitors Win Eerste Divisie Thriller

VVV Venlo produced a sharp and ruthless attacking display to beat Dordrecht 4-2 in the Netherlands Eerste Divisie on Saturday, October 24, 2026. In a match that swung end to end, the visitors’ pressing and clinical finishing proved too much for a Dordrecht side that twice equalised but could not contain VVV’s forward momentum.

Match Overview

VVV started brightly and took the lead inside the opening ten minutes when Joris van der Sande finished a low cross from the right. Dordrecht responded well, equalising through Bram van Vliet after a neat move down the left. The hosts enjoyed their best spell of the first half, but VVV retook the lead before the break when Milan de Haan curled a shot into the far corner.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Dordrecht levelled again through Lars de Bruin, but VVV’s superior intensity in the final third told. Van der Sande added his second of the night before substitute Sem Kuijpers sealed the win late on with a composed finish on the counter.

Key Moments

• 7’ – VVV 1-0: Van der Sande converted from close range after a quick overlap on the right.
• 19’ – Dordrecht 1-1: Van Vliet finished a flowing move with a first-time strike.
• 38’ – VVV 2-1: De Haan cut inside and bent a shot beyond the goalkeeper.
• 54’ – Dordrecht 2-2: De Bruin bundled the ball home after a scramble in the box.
• 67’ – VVV 3-2: Van der Sande scored his second with a calm finish after a turnover.
• 88’ – VVV 4-2: Kuijpers broke clear and slotted past the goalkeeper.

Tactical Story

VVV’s high press disrupted Dordrecht’s attempts to play out from the back, and the visitors repeatedly won the ball in dangerous areas. Their midfield rotated well, creating pockets of space between the lines, and the front three attacked those gaps with purpose. Dordrecht’s equalisers showed character, but their defensive structure remained fragile under sustained pressure.

The hosts were at their best when switching play quickly and getting their full-backs forward, but they left too much space behind when possession broke down. VVV’s fourth goal was a perfect example: a loose pass in midfield, a swift transition, and a composed finish. In a division where fine margins decide promotion races, that kind of efficiency matters.

Standout Performers

Van der Sande was the obvious match-winner with two well-taken goals, while De Haan dictated much of VVV’s best attacking play. Kuijpers made a telling contribution from the bench. For Dordrecht, Van Vliet and De Bruin took their goals well, but the home side’s defenders will be disappointed with the space afforded to VVV in transition.

Table Impact

VVV Venlo’s victory boosts their push for the promotion play-off places and underlines their credentials as one of the Eerste Divisie’s more dangerous attacking sides. Dordrecht remain in the mid-table pack and will need to tighten up defensively if they are to climb toward the top six. The result also serves as a warning: against teams that press aggressively, Dordrecht must find a more reliable way to build from the back.