Promotion/Relegation Matches

I think the promotion/relegation matches are the most exciting matches of the year. For the clubs, it might be a chance to reach the top competition for the first time in years. On the other hand, some teams will have to compete in a lower division the next season. This year I started following the matches because one of my favorite teams had a chance to promote to the Eredivisie. FC Dordrecht had been leading the Jupiler League, Holland's second division, for the whole year, but only a few matches before the end of the season, Willem II captured the first place and they didn't give it away. Fortunately, the second place gave a good starting position for the playoffs. 

First, FC Dordrecht had to beat VVV in a double match. This didn't cause much problems for the "Schapenkoppen". The second and last round was another double matche against Sparta Rotterdam. I expected Dordrecht to beat them easily, because Sparta had finished at the sixteenth place in the Jupiler League. Nevertheless, the first match in Rotterdam ended 2-2. The match in Dordrecht had to decide who would be in the Eredivisie. Unfortunately, I couldn't get tickets. I'd have loved to see the match in the stadium. After only five minutes, Funso Ojo scored the lucky first goal: the keeper couldn't see the ball coming, so he misjudged the place it would come. At the end of the first half, Paul Gladon headed for the 2-0. Gladon was contracted by Sparta, but loaned to FC Dordrecht for the whole season. He was one of the surprising stars that lead FC Dordt to the second place. Ten minutes in the second half, Mimoun Machi gave Sparta new hope: he scored 2-1. In the last minute of the match, all Sparta players were in the box of FC Dordrecht for a corner. A defender managed to head the ball away to Giovanni Korte. After a long run to Sparta's half, he scored the decisive goal. All FC Dordrecht fans in the stadium, me too, went crazy. The celebrations afterwards were great to see. FC Dordrecht definitely deserves the promotion.