Maurice buys Volendam a win

Maurice buys Volendam a win
A late penalty from Maurice Buys handed struggling Volendam their first away win of the season against 10-man Groningen. Buys netted from the spot 15 minutes from time after Antoine van der Linden had fouled Eddy Putter inside the area to earn a vital three points for the visitors, who have only previously experienced the winning feeling three times this term and as a consequence have failed to escape the lower reaches of the Eredivisie.

Groningen's Mathias Floren was sent off in the 81st minute to complete a miserable afternoon for the home side, who are now sliding ever closer to the drop zone. It was a tight game that had always looked as though it would end goalless until Buys' late intervention. Arvid Smit and Rolf Landerl both wasted good chances for Groningen in the first half, while for the visitors the lively Putter was unlucky to see his effort from just inside the area cannon back off the post.

Groningen will feel unfortunate not to have claimed at least a point after they bossed the second period. Carel Bartele and Smit (twice) squandered excellent opportunities before Volendam went ahead, Buys slamming his spot-kick into the roof of the net to give keeper Roy Beukenkamp no chance. Floren's sending off for hauling down Dion Esajas simply added insult to injury and rounded off an utterly fruitless afternoon for Groningen.