De Graafschap vs Telstar

Hetli's rapid-fire hat-trick between the 30th and 35th minutes completely flipped the match. De Graafschap had been solid for the opening half-hour, but the three goals in five minutes — all by the same player — shattered the home side's confidence and gave Telstar a lead they never looked like relinquishing. The 1-4 scoreline at the first interval reflected Telstar's complete dominance after Hetli's explosion.

Soufiane Hetli (Telstar) — Player of the match. The attacker scored a five-minute hat-trick (30', 33', 35') that turned the game on its head. His movement in the final third was too sharp for De Graafschap's defence.

Argyris Darelas (De Graafschap) — The trialist opened the scoring inside four minutes with a composed finish, offering a glimpse of what he could bring to the club if signed.

Rui Mendes (Telstar) — Added a well-taken goal in the 38th minute to cap a dominant first-period display from the visitors.

Patrick Brouwer (Telstar) — Scored the fifth in the 83rd minute to kill any faint hopes of a De Graafschap comeback.

Telstar registered 13 shots to De Graafschap's 4, with 7 on target to the home side's 1. Possession was split evenly at 50% each, but Telstar created 21 dangerous attacks to De Graafschap's 8, underlining their superiority in the final third. The 2-2 split in the second 45-minute period suggests De Graafschap improved after the break, but the damage had already been done in the first hour.

For De Graafschap (Eerste Divisie), this was another heavy pre-season defeat following a 2-7 loss to Heerenveen and a 1-2 reverse to AEK Athens. The defensive frailty — 15 goals conceded in three friendlies — is a clear area of concern ahead of the 2026/27 season. Telstar, also preparing for the Eerste Divisie campaign, will be encouraged by the ruthlessness in front of goal and the high-pressing approach described by regional media as "Telstar 2.0".

Both clubs continue their pre-season schedules. Telstar's next friendly is against RKC Waalwijk on 29 July 2026, while De Graafschap's next fixture has not been confirmed at the time of writing.

A pre-season friendly played in an unusual format, but the scoreline tells a fair story. Telstar's intensity and finishing were levels above De Graafschap's, who will need to tighten up significantly before the league season begins. Hetli's five-minute hat-trick was the standout individual moment of the afternoon.