The race to avoid the lottery of the Dutch play offs & win an automatic pace in next season’s Eredivisie looks to be going to the wire as the lead changed hand twice this weekend.
- By Lee Tierney
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Dordrecht who lost top spot last week for only the second time this season when they lost to Willem II regained the lead on Friday night although they were made to work hard for a 3-2 win over second bottom Oss who have now lost five of their last six outings, Dordrecht’s lead at the summit lasted until Sunday afternoon when Willem II triumphed 3-0 at Eindhoven (on paper their toughest remaining fixture) to open up a two point lead with just three games remaining. Willem II’s remaining games are Emmen & Telstar at home before finishing the season at Almere whilst Dordrecht visit Telstar & Den Bosch before welcoming Sparta Rotterdam on the final game of the season.
Den Bosch know a win over Eindhoven this coming weekend will secure the Period four title, although Willem II are above them in this period they will either win the league or qualify as runners up to Dordrecht in Period 1, Den Bosch beat bottom side Achilles 29 4-2 at the weekend with top scorer Eric Quekel grabbing a brace taking his tally to 18 for the season. Should Den Bosch lose or draw then MVV Maastricht have the chance of the Period four title but they must win against local rivals Fortuna Sittard & win well if Den Bosch draw. Fortuna themselves could mathematically qualify but it would take a goal swing of around ten goals for that to happen.
Sparta Rotterdam have already qualified for the end of season play offs but are in a horrific run of form, last weekend’s loss to Telstar who arrived on the back of an 8-0 loss to Rotterdam rivals Excelsior in front of just 4325 fans was their eighth loss in ten games & the decision to lay an artificial surface at the Castle has further enraged supporters. Across the city Excelsior went third after a 2-2 draw with De Graafschap, striker Lars Veldwijk enhanced his reputation further with a double taking his tally to 27 for the season. VVV Venlo suffered a 2-1 loss at in form Fortuna Sittard but with Venlo already in the play offs no real damage was done, Volendam made it three wins from four by beating Ajax Jong 1-0, Ajax have now lost their last three after a promising seven game unbeaten run & after four successive wins Almere City were beaten by Helmond Sport. MVV won again, this time 3-1 at Emmen & the final game of the weekend was between Twente & PSV Jong, two late goals won it for Twente in front of a crowd of just 171 fans.
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