De Graafschap won 2-0 against Jong Ajax at Stadion De Vijverberg, a result that the data shows was decided inside the opening five minutes and then controlled through an overwhelming volume of attacking play. The Lemeister model had projected a 2-1 home win with De Graafschap as 44 percent favourites, so the final scoreline matched the expected outcome while the clean sheet represented a slightly more emphatic margin than forecast.
The match was effectively settled by two early goals. Jack Cooper-Love opened the scoring in the second minute with a normal goal, and Donny Warmerdam added a second in the fifth minute, assisted by Levi Schoppema. After that double strike inside the opening exchanges, De Graafschap never looked likely to surrender the advantage. The quick start put Jong Ajax on the back foot immediately and forced them into a chasing game that their performance level could not sustain.
The underlying numbers illustrate a dominant home display. De Graafschap registered 21 total shots to Jong Ajax's six, including 17 attempts from inside the box compared to only two for the visitors. The home side managed five shots on target and had seven corner kicks to Jong Ajax's three. Despite the scoring being done early, the shot volume indicates continuous pressure throughout the contest. Jong Ajax's goalkeeper made three saves, while the De Graafschap goalkeeper was called into action only twice. The defensive structure of the home side limited Jong Ajax to just two shots inside the penalty area, suggesting clear chances were rare for the away team.
Possession was in De Graafschap's favour at 55 percent to 45 percent, though the passing accuracy was similar at 85 percent for the home side and 84 percent for Jong Ajax. De Graafschap completed 413 of 484 passes, while Jong Ajax completed 340 of 405. The differential in total passes, 484 to 405, reflects the home side's greater share of the ball and their ability to dictate the tempo after the early goals. The foul count was relatively even at 12 to 10, and there were no cards issued in the match.
The player ratings highlight several strong individual performances. Levi Schoppema and Ibrahim El Kadiri each earned an 8.0 rating, the highest marks on the field. Schoppema provided the assist for Warmerdam's goal and was influential from midfield. El Kadiri's rating suggests a commanding presence elsewhere on the pitch. Nick Verschuren was the highest-rated Jong Ajax player at 7.9, a solid individual display in a losing cause. Donny Warmerdam, the goalscorer, received a 7.7 rating, while Rio Hillen was marked at 7.6 and Jack Cooper-Love at 7.5.
In the context of the Eerste Divisie regular season with matchday 35 now complete, this result strengthens De Graafschap's position in the promotion race. The home side converted their early opportunities and then demonstrated the discipline to maintain their advantage without conceding. For Jong Ajax, the defeat continues a difficult campaign, as they were unable to recover from the early setback and failed to create enough quality chances to trouble the home defence. The data shows a contest that was one-sided in terms of shot creation and territory, and the scoreline accurately reflects that imbalance.
