De Graafschap vs Kifisia — Match Details | Betmana

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Kifisia

De Graafschap beat Greek side Kifisia 4-2 in a pre-season friendly, with captain Fedde de Jong scoring twice — including a penalty — after a red card for Kifisia's Jorge Pombo.

Match Analysis

AI Summary

How It Unfolded

De Graafschap started sharply and hit the woodwork inside three minutes when Clint Leemans struck the bar from a corner. The breakthrough came in the 7th minute: a sweeping team move that cut through the Kifisia defence, finished by captain Fedde de Jong for 1-0.

The Superboeren doubled the lead before half-time through another flowing attack. Denzel Eijken provided the finish in the 37th minute, making it 2-0 at the interval.

Five minutes after the restart, Nart Ahmeti-Grainca made it 3-0, slotting coolly when one-on-one with the Kifisia goalkeeper after being played through.

The Turning Point

The match turned decisively in the 66th minute. Following a scuffle between players, Kifisia captain Jorge Pombo was shown a straight red card by referee Pascal Smeenk, reducing the Greek side to ten men. Six minutes later, Kaya Symons was fouled in the box, and De Jong stepped up to convert the penalty — his second goal of the afternoon — making it 4-0 in the 73rd minute.

With the game seemingly won, De Graafschap's concentration dipped. Kifisia pulled two goals back through unidentified scorers in the 76th and 79th minutes, but the Dutch side held on comfortably.

Key Performers

Fedde de Jong — The captain led by example with a brace (7', 73' pen), finishing a team move early and staying composed from the spot. Two goals, one assist of leadership in a 4-0-2-midfield.

Denzel Eijken — Scored the crucial second goal just before half-time (37') and was a driving force from midfield, linking play effectively.

Nart Ahmeti-Grainca — Made it 3-0 shortly after the break (50') with a clinical one-on-one finish, showing sharp movement in behind.

By the Numbers — Interpreted

De Graafschap dominated the shot count (15-12 overall, 11-3 on target), reflecting the gulf in quality before the red card. Their 58% possession was comfortable without being suffocating. The 8-2 corner count in Kifisia's favour is misleading — most came after the game was decided, with the Greek side chasing the game. The real story is the 11-3 shots-on-target split: De Graafschap were clinical when it mattered, while Kifisia's two late goals came from the only three efforts they managed on frame.

What It Means

For De Graafschap, this was the first win of pre-season after defeats to AEK Athens (1-2), Telstar (3-6), and an earlier loss. The Superboeren, who compete in the Dutch Eerste Divisie, conclude their pre-season on Saturday 1 August 2026 against Eredivisie side Excelsior Rotterdam at Sportpark Pluimerskamp in Zelhem (12:00 kick-off). Their competitive season begins a week later away at Helmond Sport.

For Kifisia, the Greek Super League side, this was a continuation of their own pre-season build-up. The red card to captain Jorge Pombo will be a concern for discipline, though the two late goals at least offered a flicker of recovery.

Verdict

A pre-season friendly that followed a predictable arc: the sharper, better-organised Dutch side built a four-goal lead against a disjointed opponent, then took their foot off the gas. The 4-0 to 4-2 shift flatters Kifisia, but Duivenvoorden will note the late defensive lapses. De Jong's all-round display was the standout takeaway.