.Set up semi final tie with VVV Venlo
It was battle of wits and that of strong willed hearts on Friday night at Yanmar Stadion in Almere when city club, Almere City with former Flying Eagles of Nigeria invitee, Hamdi Akujobi prevailed over FC Eindhoven to set up date with VVV Venlo in the semi final of the promotion playoffs.
FC Eindhoven were ahead 1-0 in the first leg of the encounter played at the Jan Louwers Stadion in Eindhoven and in the return leg they did all within reach to resist every attempt from their host to even the tie. It was goalless at halftime.
The game burst to life in the last ten minutes of the tie with Almere City staring at defeat and ouster from the promotion to the Dutch Eredivisie. Jeredy Hilterman scored the goal that leveled the tie in the 80th minute. But four minutes later the boisterous and joyous atmosphere in Almere was replaced with gloom when Kodjo Amevor drilled home the equaliser following an Infringement in Almere City’s 18 yards box by Danny Post. It fetched him a yellow card in the 83rd minute.
The goal but FC Eindhoven on the brink of qualification but there was still yet another drama before the end of the regulation time. Almere City’s Anthony Limbombe managed to find the back of the net in the 94th to peg the tie back to 2-2 apiece before the referee blew the whistle for the end of the 90 minutes.
The game went into Extra Time and it was the home team that had the last laugh when substitute Rajiv van La Parra netted the deciding goal in the 109th minute.
Hamdi Akujobi who featured in his 36th league game of the season with five goals and his teammates had to sweat very hard before booking their spot in the semi final of the Eredivisie qualification 3-2 on aggregate having won the home fixture 3-1 after extra time.
There won’t be much time to rest for Hamdi and his team teammates with the first leg of the semi final tie against VVV Venlo billed for Almere on Tuesday.
Venlo qualified to the last four stage 5-4 on aggregate over Willem II. The former Eredivisie side who are trying to stage a comeback fought back from 2-0 down to settle for a 2-2 draw. They had won the first leg 3-2 and scraped through to the penultimate round where they will face Almere City on Tuesday and Saturday next week.
Both teams met twice during the regular season with Venlo winning both legs 3-0 at home and 3-1 away but Almere City will be brimming with confidence over their new found form which saw them patiently conquer FC Eindhoven.
Almere City lost in the first round of the playoffs two seasons ago to NEC Nijmegen but have gone a step further this season. Hamdi Akujobi and his teammates will be eyeing an historic maiden ticket to the Eredivisie since their formation in 2001.
In the other first round tie, NAC Breda eliminated MVV Maastricht 5-1 on aggregate to set up a semi final clash with Emmen FC. Emmen FC finished the Eredivisie season in the 16th spot and will have another lifeline to remain in the topflight if they are able to beat their opponents in the promotion playoffs. Both legs are fixed for next week also.
