FC Den Bosch Secures Play-off Position Despite Defeat to ADO Den Haag

FC Den Bosch suffered a 3-1 loss to Keuken Kampioen Divisie champions ADO Den Haag, while Cambuur triumphed over Vitesse and Willem II emerged victorious against FC Dordrecht, ultimately enabling Den Bosch to become the sixth and final team from the Dutch second tier to clinch a play-off ticket.

The fans of FC Den Bosch celebrated their team’s loss to ADO Den Haag after Sekou Sylla scored the opener in the 25th minute, chanting “We are going up!” in unison.

Going into Friday’s concluding regular-season matches of the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, FC Den Bosch was in a position where it would actually have been more beneficial to lose to ADO Den Haag, as a victory for ADO would likely prevent Vitesse from earning a play-off spot through the period standings.

With the perplexing promotion play-off rules working in their favour, FC Den Bosch needed at least two of ADO Den Haag, Willem II, and Almere City FC to finish above Vitesse in the fourth-period standings, with all those teams either already promoted or assured a place in the play-offs.

Vitesse was aiming to catch ADO Den Haag and Willem II in the fourth period and required a top-2 finish to secure the final ticket, which would have left FC Den Bosch, already guaranteed a ninth-place finish in the regular standings, without a play-off chance.

To find out more about this bewildering play-off scenario, check out our article HERE >>>

With their ninth-place finish now granting them a play-off opportunity, FC Den Bosch will join the battle for promotion to the Eredivisie alongside fellow second-tier teams Willem II, De Graafschap, Almere City FC, RKC Waalwijk, and Roda JC.

The 16th-placed team in the Eredivisie, currently Excelsior, will also participate in the play-offs, facing one of the six second-tier teams in a two-legged final on Wednesday, May 20th, and Saturday, May 23rd.