Excelsior lost 2-0 at home to Roda JC in the first round of the play-offs for promotion and relegation. The Limburgers were 2-2 back with two goals in two minutes of the time-out.
ADO Den Haag managed to beat NAC Breda 2-1 at the last minute. The return of both games is on Saturday.
Excelsior started strong
The number six Excelsior of the Premier League gave Roda JC a good start at home to number five. Nine minutes later, the Kralingers took the lead. Kenzo Goudmijn fired from the left after his one-two with Reuven Niemeijer.
The Limburgers did not do much about the break and just before the break Excelsior doubled the lead. After Amir Absalem’s foul on Niemeijer, referee Ingmar Oostrom scored and Thijs Dallinga took the lead 2-0. Already the 33rd goal of the season.
Thijs Dallinga (l) celebrates 2-0 win against Roda JC
professional shoots
Excelsior was right on target, but everything changed in the second half. Roda JC initially went after the link target without much confidence or success, but was hit twice in three quarters of the match within a minute.
After 67 minutes, former Feyenoord player Dylan Vente abruptly left the game for 2-1. And in the 68th minute it was equal: Excelsior goalkeeper Stijn van Gassel reluctantly intervened after a subtle attack by Xian Emmers. In the rebound Stefano Marzo made the situation 2-2.
In the final stage, Roda was looking for more, but the Limburgers got no further than a shot by Davy van den Berg, who hit the post via Van Gassel.
Spicy goal Steijn against NAC
Top scorer Thomas Verheydt, who has already scored thirty goals in the competition this season, was unable to play against NAC Breda in ADO Den Haag due to a back injury. And half an hour later it’s game over for the injured Ricardo Kishna.
Despite this, ADO took the lead after an attractive first half. Felipe Pires was sent off on the brink of offside – there was no VAR due to a misunderstanding so we never know for sure – and his effort was deflected by NAC goalkeeper Nick Olij. But in the rebound Sem Steijn was there like chickens to get rid of the goal.
The attacker, who will be active at FC Twente next season, is the son of Maurice Steijn, who left NAC last year. Steijn celebrated his goal loudly in front of the stands with NAC fans.
Sem Steijn shows NAC fans goals
professional shoots
Both teams had plenty of chances in the first half. The big one for NAC came shortly after the 1-0 when ADO captain Boy Kemper managed to stop a shot by Kaj de Rooij on the goal line.
no punishment
NAC stabilized in the second half and was unlucky not to have VAR when Steijn seemed to take the ball against his arm in his own penalty area. Because referee Edwin van de Graaf did not whistle, no penalty was awarded.
Mario Bilate (NAC Breda) and Daryl Janmaat (ADO Den Haag) disagree
professional shoots
The equalizer came fifteen minutes later. Backup Michael Maria took a perfect long throw and flew some twenty yards into the intersection.
A strong NAC phase started, but the goal fell in stoppage time for the other side. Daryl Janmaat, who played 34 times for the national team, saw Sacha Komljenovic completely free to replace him and ADO triumphed again on his 19th birthday.
Return Friday and Saturday
On Monday, De Graafschap and FC Eindhoven drew 1-1 in the first round of the play-offs. Return Friday and Saturday. The winners advance to the semi-finals where the still unknown number 16 Eredivisie will be added next week.
Source: NOS
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