Willem II Held by PEC Zwolle as Search for First Eredivisie Win Continues
Willem II’s difficult start to the Eredivisie season continued on Friday, as the Tilburg club were held to a 1-1 home draw by PEC Zwolle. Both sides scored in the opening three minutes, but neither could find a decisive goal after a lively start. The result leaves Willem II bottom of the table, still without a league victory after 11 matches.
For head coach Jurgen Streppel and his players, the point offered some relief after back-to-back heavy defeats. Willem II had conceded six goals against SC Cambuur and seven against PSV, making a response in front of their home supporters particularly important. They showed greater resistance this time, but the draw did little to ease the pressure on a side with only three points.
Fast Start Produces Two Early Goals
PEC Zwolle struck first in the second minute. Sydney van Hooijdonk received the ball, turned sharply and fired a well-placed shot into the net to give the visitors an immediate advantage. It was a confident finish and a frustrating opening for Willem II, who had hoped to begin with greater control.
The home side responded almost at once. Just a minute later, Hidde ter Avest found space and sent an excellent effort into the far corner, restoring parity at 1-1. The rapid exchange set up the possibility of an open contest, and both teams initially looked capable of creating further danger.
Willem II’s Devin Haen came close to adding a second when he met a move built by Nathan Tjoe-A-On, but his header flew over the crossbar. PEC, meanwhile, began to make progress down the flanks. Dylan Mbayo’s pace and direct running repeatedly tested the Tilburg defence, giving the visitors a useful outlet whenever they recovered possession.
Promising Opening Gives Way to a Scrappy Contest
After the early goals, the match gradually lost its rhythm. Both teams struggled to keep hold of the ball, and misplaced passes interrupted promising attacks before they could develop into clear chances. PEC Zwolle enjoyed spells of control, but Willem II remained organised enough to prevent the visitors from turning that possession into sustained pressure.
The most debated moment of the first half came shortly before the interval. During a PEC corner, Calvin Twigt appeared to pull Van Hooijdonk with both arms. The striker was also involved in pushing and pulling, making the incident difficult to judge from the referee’s position. VAR official Richard Martens reviewed the situation but did not recommend that referee Allard Lindhout consult the pitchside monitor. Play continued without a penalty.
The decision was likely to attract discussion among supporters, but the incident did not change the score. For Willem II, the more pressing concern was finding a way to turn their bursts of attacking play into a consistent threat. For PEC, the challenge was to make better use of their territorial advantage and Mbayo’s ability to unsettle the defence.
Schendelaar Denies Willem II a Late Lead
Van Hooijdonk had the first notable opportunity after the restart, but he could not make the most of his chance to put PEC back in front. Willem II then answered with a promising attack of their own. Haen finished the move with a shot that narrowly missed the target, keeping the score level.
Streppel turned to his bench as the second half progressed, introducing players including Jari Schuurman and Eser Gürbüz in an effort to add energy and creativity. The changes helped Willem II build one of their best attacks of the evening. Gürbüz played Ter Avest through, and the defender pulled the ball back into the path of Schuurman.
Schuurman aimed for the far corner, but PEC goalkeeper Jasper Schendelaar reacted sharply to make an important save. It was a key moment in the match: a goal would have given Willem II a valuable lead and a chance to secure their first league win. Instead, PEC stayed level and continued to search for an opportunity of their own.
Encouraged by the home crowd, Willem II pressed more aggressively in the closing stages. Kasper Boogaard tried his luck from distance but sent his effort wide. PEC were unable to produce a winning goal at the other end, and the match finished as it had stood since the third minute.
What the Draw Means for Both Clubs
The result leaves Willem II with three points from 11 league games, a record that underlines the scale of the task facing the Tilburg side. Avoiding another heavy defeat was a step forward after their recent losses, and the team showed more determination, particularly after conceding so early. However, they still need greater composure in possession and more accuracy in front of goal if they are to climb away from the foot of the Eredivisie table.
PEC Zwolle leave Tilburg with 12 points and sit 13th. The visitors may feel they missed a chance to take all three points, especially after controlling parts of the first half, but they also had to withstand Willem II’s late pressure. Schendelaar’s save from Schuurman helped preserve a point in a match that could easily have swung either way.
Willem II vs PEC Zwolle: Prediction and Next Steps
Looking ahead, this performance offers cautious encouragement for Willem II rather than a clear sign that their troubles are over. The team showed that it can respond to setbacks and create chances, but turning those moments into goals remains essential. A reasonable short-term prediction is that Willem II’s next results will depend on whether they can maintain the defensive improvement seen here while becoming more clinical in the final third.
PEC Zwolle, by contrast, will take confidence from their ability to compete away from home and from Schendelaar’s decisive contribution. Their position is more comfortable, though the club will want to convert promising spells into victories rather than settle for draws. For both sides, the next round of fixtures will provide another opportunity to build momentum in a competitive Eredivisie campaign.
