Dordrecht have been promoted to the Eredivisie after a 3-1 win over Sparta Rotterdam saw them triumph 5-3 on aggregate in the play-off final.

  • By Michael Bell
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dordrecht upAfter a 2-2 draw in Rotterdam on Thursday, Dordrecht started the game at GN Bouw Stadion as heavy favourites, and took the lead on five minutes as Funso Ojo saw his fierce shot palmed into the net by Sparta keeper Ricardo Kieboom.

A minute before half time it was 2-0 as striker Paul Gladon, on loan from Sparta Rotterdam, rose to head a free kick past substitute keeper Roy Korsmit, who replaced Kieboom, after he went off with an eye injury.

A minute into the second half, Dordrecht were awarded a penalty, but Korsmit brilliantly kept out Jeffrey Fortes’s spot kick to keep it at 2-0. The penalty save galvanised the visitors and they pulled a goal back when Mimoun Mahi curled the ball into the net just outside the box.

However Sparta Rotterdam could not find the equaliser and were reduced to ten men with two minutes left as Steef Nieuwendaal saw red for a tough tackle. Dordrecht sealed the win in injury time, as Giovanni Korte slotted into an empty net after Korsmit had ventured up field for a corner.

The promotion is deserved for Dordrecht, who led the Eerste Divisie for most of the season, only to get pipped by Willem II at the end. Sparta Rotterdam’s wait for promotion goes on, and they will play a 5th successive season in division two next year.




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