Awkward moment Roda JC fans invaded the pitch after thinking they were promoted to the Eredivisie…. only for rivals Groningen to score a 95th-minute equaliser to deny them a spot in the Dutch top flight
Roda JC supporters experienced ecstasy and heartbreak within the space of just a few minutes after seemingly clinching promotion to the Eredivisie – only for a last-gasp equaliser from Groningen to take the race down to the final day.
The crowd, clad in yellow and twirling scarves in the air, streamed onto the pitch at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion after Roda’s 2-0 victory against Cambuur in the Eerste Divisie, under the impression that they had finished in the top two.
But there was one problem – their promotion was not yet official.
The full-time whistle may have blown in their game but it hadn’t in Groningen’s showdown against Telstar. All Roda required was for their rivals, who sat in third place ahead of kick-off, to lose and for 90 minutes, it looked like they would.
However, a dramatic equaliser from Thom van Bergen in the 95th minute ensured that the pulsating three-way promotion tussle would go right down to the wire.
Roda JC supporters raced onto the pitch after seemingly securing promotion to the Eredivisie
Players celebrated wildly on the field after Roda beat Cambuur 2-0 in the Eerste Divisie
But the jubilation was short lived after rivals Groningen scored a late equaliser in their game
There looked to have been further drama in the dying stages after Telstar scored again on the cusp of the whistle, but the goal was agonisingly chalked off.
At Roda, the party fired back into life after the stadium announcer, Wim Frijns, inadvertently announced the Telstar goal that had been ruled out. Supporters had gathered to race onto the pitch and players returned from the dressing room.
‘Someone said to me, “Telstar has scored a goal,” Frijns told Voetbal International. ‘People were crying next to me, players came out, everyone was celebrating.
‘So I thought: it must be so.’
Tension was high at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion as players watched for Groningen’s score
Groningen’s last-gasp leveller against Telstar took the dramatic promotion race to the final day
Roda’s fate is still in their hands and if they beat Groningen away, they will reach the top flight
The crowd and players then invaded the field to celebrate their apparent success and in the aftermath, Frijns was told that Telstar’s goal had been disallowed.
Roda still appear likely to achieve a belated promotion on the last day of the season and fittingly, they will face Groningen with their fate very much in their own hands.
They will reach the top-flight with a win or a draw and could even clinch the title depending on the result in the game involving Willem II, the league leaders. Currently, Roda are just one point adrift of top spot ahead of the grandstand finish.
Should Groningen win, though, they will reach the Eredivisie ahead of Roda courtesy of a two-goal advantage on goal difference – the potential tie-breaker in the division.
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