Decisive figure turns the tide for Heerenveen | OneFootball

Maxence Rivera settled it in the 51st minute with a close-range finish, guiding Heerenveen to a 4-1 win over Heracles.

The French midfielder had already stung Remko Pasveer with a save before arriving again moments later to lash into the roof of the net (51.). The sequence summed up his persistence after the restart.

Rivera kept asking questions, forcing another save from Pasveer from the centre of the box (61.). He then slipped a pass that sent Luuk Brouwers through, only for the flag to go up (81.).

He finished with eight attempts and five on target, plus 11 touches in the box. His link play stood out too, completing 33 passes and a team-high 20 successful final third passes, alongside two tackles won, which kept Heracles pinned back.

Given licence to operate high between the lines, Rivera repeatedly received in dangerous pockets and drove at the visiting back four. That constant threat ensured Heerenveen controlled the decisive phases after the interval.

Heerenveen visit AZ next. Heracles host Ajax.