Leeuwarder Diemers deals sledgehammer blow to straggler Cambuur with FC Emmen

FC Emmen are back above the line in the premier league. It was Leeuwarder Mark Diemers who was behind a miraculous turnaround in the closing stages of the relegation game with Cambuur (1-2).

Jeroen Veldmate cleverly headed in extra time from a free kick by the playmaker, who was by far the most creative contributor to this game. Ten minutes earlier Ahmed El Messaoudi had already equalized with a placed shot, also from an attack set up by Diemers.

For Cambuur, relegation is imminent, with seven games before the end eight points behind the nacompetition spot now occupied by Excelsior.

For a moment, luck seemed to be on Cambuur’s side, when Mitchel Paulissen headed in (1-0) at three quarters of the game. The midfielder’s high cross from Daniël van Kaam was not stopped by his keeper Jeremy Antonisse, who saw a goal disallowed for offside in the first half.

Although the teams were pretty evenly matched, Emmen perhaps had a little more claim to the opening goal. Keziah Veendorp was the closest before halftime, when his long-range effort hit the inside of the post.

It wasn’t good, but it was exciting. And the stakes were high, as emotions ran high shortly after the opening goal. Navarone Foor and Diemers both received yellow after causing an altercation.

After the late equalizer, Emmen pressed most, but experienced goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter kept Cambuur on their feet several times. Until a sharply cut free kick by Diemers was also too powerful for him.