FC Den Bosch is not going to the Eredivisie. This became clear on Saturday afternoon after losing again to Almere City in the play-offs for promotion to the highest football level. The people of Den Bosch did everything they could, but fell short and lost 3-0.
With a sold-out section full of supporters from Den Bosch, the kick-off took place in Almere on Saturday afternoon under summer temperatures. After FC Den Bosch gave away a 2-0 lead in the first leg, it was clear that they had to at least win in this return to advance to the next round of the play-offs.
The first half was mainly a physical battle. Many high balls back and forth, with the people of Den Bosch hoping for a flurry from top scorer Kévin Monzialo. The fast attacker got through once in the first half hour, but his shot went wide.
After half an hour a mega opportunity. Not for Den Bosch, but Almere City. The home team quickly came out on the counter. A low cross falls in the box at the feet of striker Ferdy Druijf, who actually only had to tap in. He did that, but suddenly the outstretched leg of goalkeeper Pepijn van de Merbel was in the way. The goalkeeper of the Den Bosch team has had a very strong season.
Beginning of the end
Five minutes before half time it was Almere who had the ball again. First a shot was taken very well from the corner by the goalkeeper of FC Den Bosch. But the ball came back into the home team’s possession and eventually fell at the feet of Marley Dors. The winger made it 2-3 in the first game, and now outscored Van de Merbel.
And so FC Den Bosch knew that it had to come after halftime to turn the game around. For a moment, that seemed to happen quickly. Monzialo passed the ball to Laros after a good action. The 20-year-old’s shot went towards the goal, but was touched in front of the goal line and hit the crossbar.
Ulrich Landvreugd sent the Den Bosch team forward en masse in the last half hour, hoping to score some more goals. That was rather counterproductive. FC Den Bosch was tired and it was Almere that came out ahead time and time again.
After eighty minutes the curtain fell for Den Bosch. Almere came out dangerous again and this time Druijf managed to find the net with a beautiful shot that went off the underside of the bar and into the top corner. Just before the end it became 3-0. This time Julian Rijkhoff was the scorer.
And that immediately shows that football is a snapshot. In the competition, FC Den Bosch managed to beat Almere City twice and lost twice in the play-offs. Next season we will see FC Den Bosch back in the Kitchen Champion Division.
