Heracles in joint lead with PEC after win over Dordrecht, FC Eindhoven to playoffs
NOS Soccer–
Heracles Almelo is equal in points with PEC Zwolle thanks to a 1-3 win at FC Dordrecht. Despite a slightly better goal difference, the Heracles are below PEC, which has played one game less and will be in action against Jong PSV on Monday night.
So the title battle is still completely open for the two teams that are already certain of promotion to the premier league. After the game with Jong PSV, PEC still has games against Roda JC and Helmond Sport. Heracles concludes the season with duels with NAC and Jong Ajax.
In addition to that title battle, the first division is also fighting for the playoffs for promotion. FC Eindhoven secured a ticket tonight through a win over Roda JC.
Red helps Heracles
Heracles, just puffed out after the promotion party, certainly did not have it easy in Dordrecht. Samuel Armenteros worked the 0-1 in after about twenty minutes, but a few minutes later Dordrecht brushed that goal away through Samuele Longo.
After halftime, Heracles looked somewhat impotent, until Jari Schuurman was forced off with a second yellow card. The Dordrecht midfielder was shown yellow in the first half for protesting to the management and had to leave after an unfortunate tackle on Marko Vejinovic.
Heracles cleverly (and quickly) took advantage of that. A minute after the red card, left winger Emil Hansson passed his man and crossed well to Sem Scheperman. The substitute, who had been badly injured in the home game with Dordrecht, remained calm and shot in.
Moments later, Lasse Wehmeyer made it 1-3. That goal put Heracles level on points with PEC at least until Monday night.
FC Eindhoven to playoffs, missed opportunity for Telstar
FC Eindhoven has secured its ticket to the playoffs for promotion, but it certainly didn’t happen by itself. Rob Penders’ team had to go to the limit in Kerkrade, where they had not won since 2016.
The game with Roda JC seemed to be heading for a 1-1 draw for a long time, but in the closing stages Eindhoven got a penalty kick. It was coolly shot in by captain Mawouna Amevor.
Results in the first division
| FC Dordrecht – Heracles Almelo | 1-3 |
| Roda JC – FC Eindhoven | 1-2 |
| Helmond Sport – VVV-Venlo | 1-1 |
| Telstar – Willem II | 0-0 |
| De Graafschap – MVV Maastricht * | 2-1 |
| * temporarily discontinued |
To still have a chance of making the play-offs, Telstar had to win at home against Willem II. That did not happen: coach Mike Snoei’s team went all out, especially in the closing stages, but got stuck at 0-0.
Telstar particularly suffered from a moment in the closing stages, when a wonderful goal by David Min was disallowed because Glynor Plet had fouled. VVV also drew, thanks to a late goal by Helmond substitute Jafar Arias.
