Emmen secured a hard-fought 3:1 victory over Jong AZ in the Eerste Divisie third round on Friday evening. The hosts took control early and extended their lead before the visitors could mount any serious response. Three goals from different scorers proved enough to settle what became an uneven contest after the break.
Nelson Amadin opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark, worked a short corner to find space in the penalty area. Freddy Quispel doubled the advantage moments later, capitalising on a moment of indecision in the Jong AZ defence. Michael Breij added a third before the hour, cut them open at will as the visitors looked increasingly disjointed.
Yoël van den Ban pulled one back late on for Jong AZ, but the damage had been done. The substitute made his mark quickly, handed a debut that ended in disappointment for the away side. Emmen saw the game out with composure, controlling the tempo when it mattered most.
Both teams shared possession at 50-50, but the statistics told a different story. Emmen registered seven shots on target compared to five for Jong AZ, while their accuracy of 41 per cent versus 56 per cent showed the visitors were more clinical when they did test the goalkeeper. However, the wheels came off for Jong AZ when they lost their defensive shape in the second half.
The result keeps Emmen in third place with four wins from five matches, accumulating 12 points. Jong AZ remain in 11th position with six points from five games, their three defeats accounting for their struggles this season. The visitors had come into this fixture after a 5:2 victory over De Graafschap, but can spring a surprise only when they find consistency.