FOOTBALL – Excelsior was promoted to the Eredivisie tonight at the expense of ADO Den Haag and so all seventeen opponents of FC Emmen next season are now known.
The Rotterdam club, where former FC Emmen players Marinus Dijkhuizen, Reuven Niemeijer, Michael Chacon and Thijs Dallinga are under contract, came back from a 3-0 deficit in the final phase of regular time. In extra time, Excelsior also made up for a 4-3 deficit, after which penalties had to decide.
That decision came after eighteen penalties. Jamal Amofa was the schlemiel at ADO and missed the last penalty for ADO. The first meeting between the two clubs in the final of the play-offs for promotion did not result in a winner on Tuesday (1-1). Excelsior relegated from the Eredivisie in 2019.
FC Emmen therefore has all 17 opponents for the fourth Eredivisie season in history: Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord, AZ, FC Utrecht, Vitesse, NEC, FC Groningen, Cambuur, Go Ahead Eagles, Sparta, FC Twente, SC Heerenveen, Fortuna Sittard, RKC, FC Volendam and therefore Excelsior.
Four opponents will meet FC Emmen on the highest stage for the first time: Cambuur, NEC, Go Ahead Eagles and FC Volendam.
The new Eredivisie season starts on the weekend of 5 to 7 August.