As a result, Hera finished tenth out of twelve clubs this season. The bottom three are therefore relegated from the Premier League.
If Jong Ajax had won the championship match against De Graafschap in the first division tonight, Hera would have avoided relegation with that place in the rankings. Because Ajax 1 already plays in the Premier League and no two teams from the same club are allowed to play in the competition, in that case only two teams would be promoted and relegated.
But because De Graafschap won against Jong Ajax, that straw had already fallen away from Hera before the start of the match.
Coach Ed Engelkes’ team was then unable to maintain their survival on their own. Hera took a 1-0 lead in the second half, but the team conceded two goals in the final minutes of the match. Claudia Scheunemann’s 1-2 came in injury time.
Tough season
This marks a dramatic end to Hera’s first season, where they knew they would have a hard time this season.
This was Hera’s first season as an independent club. The professional license what they needed arrived just a few days before the start of the competition.
Coach Engelkes told just before the season that Hera aimed to avoid relegation. “We are a new club, some girls have left and new ones have arrived. We have to be realistic. Other clubs such as FC Twente, Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord have been around for much longer. Let’s maybe surprise other groups, I think that will happen a number of times this year.”
This surprise was successful at least once, in February. when Hera won the derby against Ajax: 1-2.