Heracles Almelo was crowned champion of the Kitchen Champion Division on Friday. The club from Almelo made no mistake against Jong Ajax (2-0) on the final day of the competition and kept competitor PEC Zwolle behind on goal difference.
Heracles and PEC Zwolle both started the final round in the Kitchen Champion Division with 82 points. Because Heracles had a better goal difference (+59 to +55), the team of trainer John Lammers only had to win against Jong Ajax at home.
That victory for Heracles came. Samuel Armenteros opened the score in the 24th minute and after the break Lucas Schoofs put an end to all tension with the 2-0. When celebrating the goal, cups landed on the field, after which the game was stopped. After a cooling-off period, no more goals were scored in Almelo.
PEC Zwolle won 2-3 against Helmond Sport thanks to a goal in injury time. In the end, after 38 games, the Zwolle team fell ‘only’ five goals short for the championship in the Kitchen Champion Division.
Apart from a mention in the honor roll, the title has little value for the champion. The numbers one and two are promoted directly to the Eredivisie. Heracles and PEC Zwolle were already certain of a place at the highest level in April.
As a result, Heracles Almelo and PEC Zwolle return to the Eredivisie a year after the relegation. The two clubs stood head and shoulders above this season in the Kitchen Champion Division. PEC Zwolle finished fifteen points above number three Almere City.
Eindstand boven in Keuken Kampioen Divisie:
- Heracles Almelo 38-85 (+61)
- PEC Zwolle 38-85 (+56)
- Almere City 38-70 (+17)
- Willem II 38-68 (+28)
Fourth title in First Division for Heracles
For Heracles Almelo, the title comes somewhat unexpectedly. The club from Almelo entered the winter break as leader, but after a hopeless 0-3 defeat against PEC Zwolle in January, Lammers’ team lost first place to the competitor from the Hanseatic city.
Two weeks ago, PEC Zwolle surprisingly fell at Jong PSV, after which Heracles Almelo took the lead again. It turned out to be the decisive defeat in the title fight. Heracles Almelo did not lose a point after that and now goes to the Eredivisie as champion.
For Heracles it is the fourth title in the Eerste Divisie, after earlier championships in 1962, 1985 and 2005. After the last title, the club was active in the Eredivisie for seventeen years. In a crazy end to a jet-black season, in which trainer Frank Wormuth was fired and Rai Vloet caused a fatal accident, Heracles descended to the second level last year.
In the coming weeks, Willem II, Almere City, NAC Breda, VVV-Venlo, MVV Maastricht and FC Eindhoven hope to join Heracles Almelo and PEC Zwolle in the Eredivisie. Together with the number sixteen of the Eredivisie, they compete in the play-offs for one ticket at the highest level.
2023-05-19 20:06:45
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