Eredivisie wrap: Rare win for De Graafschap

De Graafschap recorded a shock 3-0 win over Utrecht in the Eredivisie on Thursday, while VVV-Venlo lost again.

A brace from Michael de Leeuw helped struggling De Graafschap end a run of six consecutive defeats with the comfortable home triumph at De Vijverberg.

The win sees Richard Roelofsen’s men off the bottom of the table, but they are still 11 points from moving out of the relegation play-off spots, while Utrecht are eight points clear of 16th-placed Venlo.

De Graafschap were on top from the outset and took a 22nd-minute lead through Rydell Poepon, who fired home a rebound after goalkeeper Erik Cummins failed to deal with a Jan-Paul Saeijs cross.

De Leeuw doubled his team’s advantage just after the hour mark when he headed in a Gil Vermouth corner, and he added a second in the 88th minute.

VVV slumped to their fifth straight loss, a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Vitesse, who consolidated seventh spot.

Alexander Buttner, Wilfried Bony and Nicky Hofs were on the scoresheet for the victors.

Yanic Wildschut pulled a goal back for VVV to make it 2-1 in the 52nd minute, but Hofs sealed all three points for the visitors in additional time.

ADO Den Haag moved seven points clear of the bottom three thanks to a 3-0 victory at home to Groningen.

Charlton Vicento put the home side ahead in the 38th minute, before Kenneth Omeruo and Euzebiusz Smolarek added goals in the second half.