Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Dordrecht beat Schalke 04 II 3-0 in their pre-season friendly opener as captain Sem Valk, Yunus Younous and Nicolas Rossi scored under new head coach Paul Nuijten's watch.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Dordrecht showed flashes of quality in a first half played at the DFC sports park in Dordrecht. The hosts took the lead in the 22nd minute when a corner delivery found captain Sem Valk, who got the decisive touch to make it 1-0.
Just before half-time, midfielder Ben Weber thought he had equalised, but his goal was ruled out for offside — a moment that kept Schalke 04 II within touching distance at the break.
The second half saw Dordrecht introduce a raft of Under-21 players, but the drop-off in experience did not show. Winger Ninho Felicia immediately rattled the post, signalling the hosts' intent.
Dordrecht's second arrived in the 66th minute and was the pick of the goals. Nicolas Rossi produced a delightful backheel to send debutant left-back Beni Mpanzu down the flank. Mpanzu's cut-back found striker Yunus Younous, who stretched to slide the ball home from close range for 2-0.
Any hopes of a Schalke fightback evaporated in the 84th minute. Rossi stepped up to a free kick just outside the box and drilled it low under the defensive wall, the ball skimming into the far corner to make it 3-0.
The Turning Point
The disallowed Ben Weber goal just before half-time proved pivotal. Had Schalke gone in at 1-1, the dynamic of the second half may have shifted. Instead, Dordrecht emerged with momentum, Felicia hit the post within moments of the restart, and the hosts never looked back.
Key Performers
- Nicolas Rossi: The Uruguayan was involved in two of the three goals — a clever backheel assist for Younous and a well-executed free kick for the third. A man-of-the-match contribution in his first pre-season outing.
- Sem Valk: The captain led by example, scoring the opening goal from a corner and organising the defence throughout the first half.
- Yunus Younous: The striker's movement and finish for the 2-0 showed sharp instincts, exactly what a pre-season opener demands from a centre-forward.
- Beni Mpanzu: Making his debut for the club at left-back, the youngster provided the assist for the second goal with a driving run and precise cut-back.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
The 3-0 scoreline flattered neither side. Dordrecht created the clearer chances across both halves, with Felicia's post and Rossi's free kick adding to the goals that the scoreboard recorded. Schalke 04 II, playing on the fourth tier of German football (Regionalliga), had spells of possession but rarely tested the Dordrecht goalkeepers — Biai in the first half and Artic in the second.
The two distinctly different XIs fielded by Dordrecht reflected the pre-season priority: minutes into legs rather than result. That both units kept a clean sheet and scored will satisfy Nuijten, who watched from the stands rather than the dugout.
What It Means
Dordrecht begin their pre-season schedule with a clean sheet and three goals, exactly the start a new manager wants to see. The Keuken Kampioen Divisie side face a step up next Saturday when they take on Eredivisie giants Feyenoord in their next friendly.
Schalke 04 II, who compete in the Regionalliga West, will look to sharpen their finishing ahead of their own pre-season fixtures. The match was played behind closed doors per the Bundesliga club's schedule.
Verdict
A professional, low-intensity friendly win that told Nuijten more about his squad depth than any tactical revelation. The first XI looked composed; the second XI showed energy. Three goals, a clean sheet and no injuries — a near-perfect pre-season opener.
Match Events
Key match events between Dordrecht and Schalke 04 II — 3 goals and 0 cards recorded during the match.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 27 Jun 2026