PEC Zwolle Stun Go Ahead Eagles as Thijs Oosting Scores Twice
PEC Zwolle produced an impressive comeback to defeat Go Ahead Eagles 4-1 in Sunday’s VriendenLoterij Eredivisie derby at MAC3Park Stadion. After falling behind against the run of play, the hosts responded with a confident second-half performance, led by goals from Sydney van Hooijdonk and a decisive brace from Thijs Oosting. Koen Kostons completed the scoring late on.
The result offered a timely lift for Zwolle, who had dismissed head coach Henry van der Vegt after a 1-0 loss to SC Cambuur the previous weekend. Interim coaches Dennis van der Ree and Maikel van der Werff took charge and saw their side deliver a markedly improved display, recovering from an early setback to claim a valuable three points.
Go Ahead Eagles strike first against the run of play
PEC Zwolle began brightly, pushing forward and looking to take control of the derby. But despite the home side’s promising start, it was Go Ahead Eagles who opened the scoring. A long ball from deep caught Zwolle’s defence out, and Sherel Floranus was unable to cut it out. He appeared to hurt himself while attempting the interception as the ball continued into the penalty area.
Viktor Edvardsen collected possession and squared it across goal. Jasper Schendelaar misjudged the delivery, giving Stefán Ingi Sigurðarson the chance to finish from close range. The visitors had taken a 1-0 lead, even though Zwolle had looked the more assertive team in the opening stages.
The goal forced PEC to chase the game, but the hosts did not lose their attacking intent. Eighteen-year-old Gilles van der Wal came close with a turning shot that drifted narrowly wide, while Sydney van Hooijdonk also sent an effort just past the post. Those chances hinted that Zwolle could still find a way back into the contest if they maintained their pressure.
Van Hooijdonk sparks Zwolle’s comeback
PEC Zwolle’s persistence paid off after the break. Van Hooijdonk found space just outside the penalty area and struck cleanly, sending the ball against the inside of the post and into the net. The superb finish made it 1-1 and shifted the momentum firmly toward the home side.
With the equaliser secured, Zwolle played with greater conviction. Their passing became more purposeful, and they continued to test the Go Ahead defence rather than settling for a point. The turnaround was especially significant given the uncertainty surrounding the club after Van der Vegt’s departure. Under the interim coaching partnership, Zwolle looked more energetic and organised, turning pressure into clear attacking opportunities.
Oosting’s brace puts the derby beyond reach
Thijs Oosting soon gave the home crowd another reason to celebrate. The midfielder unleashed a powerful strike that rattled the underside of the crossbar, coming agonisingly close to a spectacular goal. The effort was also a painful moment for his father, Joseph Oosting, who was watching from the opposing technical area as Go Ahead Eagles’ coach.
Oosting did not have to wait long for another opportunity. Shortly after his effort against the bar, he met a cross from the left and guided the ball into the top corner. The finish put PEC Zwolle ahead and added another chapter to Oosting’s personal record against his father’s team: it was his fifth goal against Go Ahead Eagles under Joseph’s management.
The hosts continued to attack as the match entered its closing stages. Koen Kostons added a fourth goal to complete a convincing scoreline and underline the scale of Zwolle’s second-half response. What had begun as a difficult afternoon after Sigurðarson’s opener ended with the home side celebrating a 4-1 derby victory.
Important points in the Eredivisie standings
The win lifts PEC Zwolle to 15th place in the VriendenLoterij Eredivisie, providing a welcome boost as the club looks to move away from the lower reaches of the table. Go Ahead Eagles remain ninth despite the heavy defeat. For Zwolle, the result is more than a local bragging right: it offers the interim staff an encouraging start and gives the squad a platform to build on in the coming fixtures.
One match cannot settle the longer-term questions around Zwolle’s coaching situation, but the performance offered useful signs. The team responded to going behind, created chances through sustained pressure and showed greater sharpness after the interval. Van Hooijdonk’s equaliser changed the mood, while Oosting’s finishing proved decisive. The late fourth goal also reflected a side willing to keep pushing rather than simply protect its lead.
What the result could mean next
For supporters looking ahead to the next round of football, Zwolle’s challenge will be to reproduce this intensity and attacking confidence away from the emotional atmosphere of a derby. The win may also influence prediction discussions around the club’s upcoming matches: a more assertive display under Van der Ree and Van der Werff gives fans reasons for optimism, although consistency will be the key test.
Go Ahead Eagles, meanwhile, will need to review how their early advantage slipped away. Their opening goal showed the danger of quick transitions and long passes, but Zwolle’s second-half pressure exposed defensive vulnerabilities. The visitors will be keen to respond and protect their position in the top half of the standings.
In the end, PEC Zwolle’s 4-1 victory was built on resilience, improved finishing and Oosting’s standout contribution. The hosts turned an early deficit into a memorable derby win, while their interim coaches made an immediate impact. For Zwolle, the result brings momentum and renewed belief; for Go Ahead Eagles, it is a reminder that a strong start must be matched by control across the full 90 minutes.
