Willem II secured a decisive 3-0 victory over Jong AZ at the Koning Willem II Stadion, a result that was ultimately decided by an early two-goal burst and superior efficiency in front of goal. The Lemeister model had installed Willem II as favourites with a 47% win probability and projected a 2-0 scoreline, and the hosts exceeded that projection by striking three times without reply despite being outpossessed for long periods.
The pattern of the match was set inside the opening 14 minutes. Devin Haen opened the scoring in the 11th minute, with N. Doodeman providing the assist for the first of three normal goals. Just three minutes later, Siegert Baartmans doubled the lead with an assist from M. El Allouchi. This rapid start gave Willem II a commanding position, one that the underlying numbers suggest they were fortunate to hold. While the hosts took an early lead, the eventual shot counts of 19 for Willem II and 20 for Jong AZ show an evenly matched contest in terms of volume.
Despite the even shot count, the quality of chances and finishing told the story. Willem II registered six shots on target from their 19 attempts, while Jong AZ managed only three from their 20. The expected goals figures underline the home side’s edge in chance creation: Willem II posted an xG of 1.98 compared to 1.13 for the visitors. The match was effectively sealed just after half-time when Finn Stam scored in the 51st minute, assisted by P. van Loon, to make it 3-0. This goal arrived shortly after a flurry of yellow cards, with Mathijs Menu and Julian Oerip booked for Jong AZ in consecutive minutes before Stam himself received a yellow. A late caution for Jesper Zwart completed the visitors' disciplinary tally of three yellow cards.
Possession statistics paint a familiar picture for Jong AZ, who dominated the ball with 58% to Willem II's 42%. They completed 477 passes at a rate of 87%, compared to Willem II's 338 passes at 85%. However, this territorial control did not translate into clear chances. Jong AZ had 10 shots from inside the box and another 10 from outside, but they were largely kept at arm's length by the Willem II defence, whose goalkeeper made three saves. The visitors also had eight corners, matching Willem II's total, but they were unable to convert any set-piece opportunity into a goal.
The ratings from the match highlight several strong individual performances. Finn Stam was the highest-rated player on the pitch with an 8.0, reflecting his goal and all-round contribution in the middle of the park. Per van Loon and Devin Haen each earned a 7.9, with Haen's early goal setting the tone. Siegert Baartmans, also a scorer, was rated 7.6, while Raffael Behounek anchored the defence with a 7.5. For Jong AZ, Kiyani Zeggen was the standout performer with a 7.9, the only visiting player to break the 7.5 barrier.
The result moves Willem II to 50 points after 37 matches, placing them firmly in the upper half of the Eerste Divisie table. The victory was built on ruthless finishing and a defence that absorbed pressure without conceding a goal, a combination that proved too much for a Jong AZ side that, despite its possession and shot volume, lacked the cutting edge to change the game.
