Volendam Stun Zwolle with Dramatic Stoppage-Time Winner

FC Volendam secured a crucial 2-1 victory over PEC Zwolle at MAC³PARK Stadion, with substitute Bilal Kuwas netting a dramatic winner in the 91st minute to lift the visitors six points clear of the relegation zone.

The result was particularly sweet for Volendam, who entered the match sitting 15th in the Eredivisie table with just 18 points from 21 games. Against a Zwolle side ranked six places higher on 26 points, few would have predicted such a clinical away performance.

Zwolle took an early lead through Thomas Gooijer’s 10th-minute strike, capitalising on their superior ball possession which would ultimately reach 58 per cent. The hosts appeared in control, but their advantage proved short-lived as Roy van Cruijsen equalised for Volendam on 34 minutes, finishing expertly to level the contest at the interval.

The second half became increasingly fractious, with referee Allard Lindhout brandishing three yellow cards to Zwolle players as the home side’s frustration mounted. Despite dominating possession and registering 14 shots to Volendam’s 15, Zwolle’s expected goals figure of just 0.70 highlighted their struggles in the final third.

Volendam’s superior clinical edge was evident in their 1.66 expected goals rating, and they capitalised ruthlessly when Kuwas struck in stoppage time to snatch all three points. The substitute’s intervention capped an impressive away display that saw Volendam register seven shots on target compared to Zwolle’s four.

The victory moves Volendam to 21 points and provides vital breathing space in their relegation battle, whilst Zwolle remain ninth but will rue missed opportunities against opponents they were heavily favoured to defeat. For manager and fans alike, this result demonstrates that form often trumps league position in the unforgiving world of Eredivisie football.