Go Ahead Eagles score dramatic late winner in playoff final to qualify for Europe
Go Ahead Eagles scored a late winner in extra time to beat FC Utrecht 2-1 in the playoff final for a UEFA Conference League spot. Joris Kramer scored in the dying minutes of extra time in a match marred by crowd trouble.
It is just the third time in the club's history that they qualified for European football. They defeated NEC in the semi-finals to reach this stage. Utrecht beat Sparta Rotterdam in the semi-finals.
FC Utrecht took the lead after 31 minutes. Jeffrey de Lange saved Ryan Flamingo's header from a corner at the near post, but the rebound landed perfectly so that Nick Viergever could nod home.
A beautiful Utrecht attack should have led to the 2-0 before halftime. Souffian El Karouani played the ball to Jens Toornstra in the box. The midfielder deceived everybody by stepping over the ball so it would go into the path of Sam Lammers, who should have buried the chance from just outside the six-yard box, but De Lange saved his effort.
Go Ahead started the second half well and nearly equalized through their captain, Bas Kuipers. The full-back came forward and dribbled inside of a defender before his shot was blocked in the box by El Karouani.
The home side hit the bar after 65 minutes. Lammers chipped the ball into the box to Hidde ter Avest, whose lobbed header came back off the crossbar.
Rene Hake's side was pushing for an equalizer and nearly got it when Victor Edvardsen's low-driven effort went narrowly wide past the post.
Utrecht finished the match with ten men as Oscar Fraulo was given a straight red for a dangerous tackle from behind.
The match was then suspended in injury time as both sets of fans threw objects and fireworks at each other with Utrecht fans also ready to run onto the pitch.
The match was resumed with five minutes left in injury time. The break did not work in Utrecht's favor as Go Ahead equalized within a minute.
Bobby Adekanye's sharp cross was sliced in the Utrecht goal by Viergever. This was the final score after 90 minutes, ensuring the match went to extra time.
It was not Sam Lammers' day, as he missed another big chance to give Utrecht the lead. Victor Jensen played the 27-year-old this time, but De Lange saved again in what was mainly the same way as the chance in the first half.
It proved costly, as Go Ahead Eagles snatched the win with a late header. A free kick was crossed into the box and met by center-back Joris Kramer, who headed it into the far corner to write his name in history.
The crowd trouble continued after the goal as Go Ahead Eagles winger Thibo Baeten was hit on the back of the head by an object thrown by Utrecht fans.
The match finished 1-2, but Go Ahead Eagles' players' celebrations were cut short as Utrecht fans ran onto the pitch, trying to reach the opposition players or fans.
Hake's side will start in the second qualifying round of the Conference League.
