Zwolle have the Eredivisie edge
Tuesday, June 17, 2003
Article summary
The Dutch promotion/relegation play-offs will go to the wire with FC Zwolle strongly placed to avoid the drop.
Article body
The Dutch promotion/relegation play-offs will all be decided on the last day with six teams left in the running for two Eredivisie places.
Thursday showdown
In Group A, FC Zwolle and Helmond Sport are battling it out while all four Group B teams – FC Volendam, BVO Emmen, SC Excelsior and Heracles Almelo – still harbour hopes of playing in the top flight next season. The final round of matches will be played on Thursday, with the two group winners being successful.
Pole position
Zwolle are in the driving seat in Group A with eleven points, despite a 1-1 draw last night with FC Den Bosch. Dominggus Lim-Duan put Zwolle in front on 57 minutes but, with just five minutes remaining, Derk Schut equalised. Helmond are now just one point behind Zwolle after a 2-0 home victory against Go Ahead Eagles, thanks to first-half goals from Leon Kantelberg and Ivar van Dinteren.
Crucial contest
It means Zwolle will retain their top-flight status if they draw at home against Helmond on Thursday. If Helmond win, they will be promoted instead. The other Group A match between Go Ahead and Den Bosch has no bearing on the promotion issue.
Slender lead
In Group B, Volendam have the edge on goal difference from Emmen, who also have nine points, despite losing 2-0 at their nearest rivals last night. Emmen's Yurtcan Kayis opened the score for the home team on 32 minutes before Frank Broers wrapped up the victory with a second-half penalty. In the other game, Excelsior continued their comeback after picking up no points in their first three matches, by winning 2-0 at Heracles. Cecilio Lopes was the hero with two goals in the last 13 minutes.
All to play for
On Thursday, Volendam will welcome Heracles while Emmen will travel to Excelsior, who are fighting to preserve their Eredivisie status. Volendam currently have a plus three goal difference, two better than Emmen, while Excelsior and Heracles are three points behind. These matches, along with the two in Group A, will all start at 19.00CET.