Telstar is two games away from returning to the Eredivisie. Trainer Anthony Correia’s team qualified Friday night at the expense of FC Den Bosch for the final of the promotion play-offs after extra time. After the match, supporters started fighting.
After the 0-0 draw in the first leg, the score in Velsen-Zuid was 1-1 after ninety minutes. In extra time, Den Bosch had the best chances, but Telstar won thanks to a goal from Danny Bakker in the 109th minute.
After the match, the Telstar fans entered the field for a pitch invasion. Then things went completely wrong. Den Bosch supporters broke out of the away section, after which fans from both clubs started fighting. Players ran inside in panic. Peace only returned after about five minutes.
This is how a festive day for Telstar ended in minor key. ‘The White Lions’ were allowed to celebrate because they are on the verge of returning to the Eredivisie. The club last played in the highest division 47 years ago.
Telstar relegated in the 1977/1978 season and has since played a supporting role in Dutch professional football. The North Holland club has been working with one of the lowest budgets of all professional clubs in the Netherlands for years. Last season Telstar finished seventeenth in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie.
This season everything is different for Telstar, which finished seventh in the league and surprisingly was too strong for ADO Den Haag in the first round of the play-offs. On Friday evening, FC Den Bosch also had to believe it.
Telstar will face FC Dordrecht or Willem II in the play-off final, who will play against each other on Saturday. The first leg ended in a 2-1 victory for FC Dordrecht. The final matches will be played next week on Thursday and Sunday.
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Supporters Telstar and Den Bosch Fight Each Other on Football Field
Telstar Stadium Sold Out Again
In the run-up to the match against Den Bosch, Telstar was already discussing the logistical challenges that promotion would bring to the club. For example, if promoted, Telstar must replace the artificial turf with a grass field. The club doesn’t actually have the money for that operation.
The public in Telstar’s 711 Stadium – which was sold out for the third match in a row – was logically not concerned with that on Friday evening. The supporters shouted the Telstar players forward, even after a difficult opening phase.
In it, Den Bosch took the lead via Teun van Grunsven, who headed in at the far post from a corner. But the lead did not last long.
Den Bosch defender Nick de Groot got the ball against his arm in the penalty area, after which Youssef El Kachati converted the awarded penalty. The 25-year-old striker has already scored his 22nd goal in all competitions this season.
Koeman Spectator in Velsen-Zuid
Shortly after halftime, the visitors had a great opportunity after clumsiness from Ronald Koeman Jr. Under the watchful eye of his father Ronald Koeman, he simply handed in the ball, after which Danny Verbeek was able to shoot. Koeman Jr. repaired his mistake with a good reflex.
Furthermore, there was little to experience in the 711 Stadium after the break, until De Groot was close to the winning goal just before time. His header went via the crossbar and Koeman Jr.’s body just not over the line.
In extra time, Den Bosch had the best chances, but Koeman Jr. had great saves in store on shots from Ilias Boumassaoudi, Rein van Hedel and Rik Mulders. Bakker did have his sights set on the other side and brought the Telstar audience into ecstasy.
After the final whistle, there was a pitch invasion by supporters of both clubs. It resulted in several fights.