ALMELO, NETHERLANDS — Jacob Trenskow's 55th-minute breakthrough opened the floodgates as 11th-placed Heerenveen cruised to a commanding 0-3 victory over 16th-placed Heracles Almelo, extending the hosts' miserable run at Erve Asito. The Danish winger's clinical finish from the centre of the box set the tone for a dominant second-half display that saw the visitors pull clear of their relegation-threatened opponents in the Eredivisie standings.
Heerenveen's patience paid dividends ten minutes into the second half when Dylan Vente's intelligent movement created space for Trenskow, who unleashed a precise left-footed strike into the top left corner that gave Timo Jansink no chance. The visitors doubled their advantage in the 77th minute through Vasilios Zagaritis, who latched onto Maxence Rivera's perfectly weighted assist to slot a left-footed effort from the left side of the box into the centre of the goal. Rivera then capped the performance deep into stoppage time, converting a penalty with a right-footed shot to the bottom left corner after Damon Mirani fouled Luuk Brouwers in the area, with VAR confirming the decision.
Heerenveen dominated the ball with 58% possession, pinning Heracles Almelo back for long stretches and controlling the tactical battle through Joris van Overeem and Luuk Brouwers in midfield. Marcus Linday marshalled the defensive line with authority, while Oliver Braude provided width and defensive solidity down the right flank. Heracles Almelo's goalkeeper was kept busy, making five saves throughout the contest, including crucial stops from Rivera's efforts in the 68th minute. Thomas Bruns and Mike te Wierik battled valiantly in midfield for the hosts, but they struggled to create clear-cut opportunities against a well-organized Heerenveen backline.
The visitors' attacking superiority was evident throughout, as they created more chances with 15 shots compared to Heracles' eight, while also registering eight shots on target to the hosts' meagre two. Bryan Limbombe's 89th-minute effort, saved by Bernt Klaverboer, represented one of the few moments when Heracles threatened, but by then the contest was long decided. The 12 fouls committed by Heracles reflected their frustration, with Mike te Wierik receiving a yellow card in the 67th minute for a foul on Maas Willemsen.
The turning point arrived with Trenskow's opener, which shattered Heracles' defensive resolve and forced the hosts to abandon their cautious approach. Manager Erwin van de Looi introduced substitutes Tristan van Gilst and Jan Zamburek in an attempt to spark a comeback, but Heerenveen's tactical discipline never wavered. The visitors' ability to transition from defence to attack, particularly through the pace of Zagaritis and the movement of Vente, proved too much for a Heracles side that has now conceded 28 goals in 14 league matches.
Looking ahead, Heracles Almelo will host Sparta Rotterdam on January 11 in a crucial relegation battle, while Heerenveen face a stern test when they host Feyenoord Rotterdam on the same day.