BREDA, Netherlands (Interstat) — A late strike from substitute Pepijn Reulen delivered NAC Breda a narrow 1-0 victory over FC Volendam in an Eredivisie match at Rat Verlegh Stadion on Saturday.

The contest, which saw the lone goal arrive just three minutes from full time, provided NAC Breda with a winning start to its league campaign while handing Volendam a defeat in its season opener.

For much of the match, the teams struggled to break through organized defenses and create clear chances. The first significant disciplinary action came in the 37th minute when NAC Breda forward Charles-Andréas Brym received a yellow card. Volendam’s Dave Kwakman was also booked in the 55th minute as the midfield battle intensified.

The introduction of substitutes ultimately proved decisive for the home side. In the 87th minute, a buildup involving multiple substitutes unlocked the Volendam defense. Joël Ideho, who had entered the match earlier, provided the assist along with fellow substitute Nordin Bukala, finding Reulen in a dangerous position. The forward finished clinically to send the home supporters into celebration.

The goal sparked a frantic close to the match, with two quick yellow cards shown in the aftermath. Bukala was booked for NAC Breda in the 80th minute, immediately followed by a caution for Volendam’s Ideho in the 81st.

The final whistle confirmed a hard-fought three points for NAC Breda, defying the pregame projections. According to Interstat’s game simulator, the match was expected to finish with a 2-1 scoreline in favor of NAC Breda. The same service’s ELO system gave the home side a 59.40 percent probability of victory, an expectation they narrowly fulfilled with the solitary goal.

With the result, NAC Breda begins its Eredivisie season with a record of one win and zero losses, while also holding an identical mark across all competitions. Volendam starts its campaign with a record of zero wins and one loss in both the league and overall.

The match highlighted the impact of tactical changes from the bench, with NAC Breda’s substitutes combining directly for the game-winning goal. The victory provides a foundation for NAC Breda’s league aspirations, while Volendam will look to regroup after a defensively stout but ultimately fruitless performance on the road.