Dutch-Ghanaian attacker Emanuel Poku produced a match-winning performance, scoring twice in Almere City’s 3–1 victory over De Graafschap in the first leg of their Eredivisie Qualification quarter-final at the Yanmar Stadion.
Poku opened the scoring on 32 minutes, drifting into the box to finish coolly after a smart pass from Jamie Jacobs. Although De Graafschap hit back in first-half stoppage time through Fedde de Jong, Almere always looked the more dangerous side after the break.
Marley Dors restored the hosts’ lead just before the hour, again finishing a move crafted by the influential Jacobs. Poku then struck his second in the 77th minute, latching onto a pass from substitute Julian Rijkhoff and calmly slotting home to give Almere a two-goal cushion heading into the return leg. The forward’s movement and composure in the final third underpinned a dominant display from Jeroen Rijsdijk’s team.
De Graafschap, who carried some threat on the counter but created no big chances, must now chase the tie in front of their own fans. Their next game is the decisive second leg at home to Almere City on Saturday, May 9, where they need a win to keep their promotion hopes alive.
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