On Friday, May 9, 2025, Telstar secured the last play-off spot for promotion to the Eredivisie by defeating FC Emmen with a resounding 3-0 victory. This marks the first time since 2018 that Telstar has reached the promotion play-offs, a significant achievement for the club and its supporters.
The match took place at the 711 Stadion in Velsen-Zuid, which was sold out for the first time since 2019, creating an electrifying atmosphere. Telstar's Guus Offerhaus opened the scoring just four minutes into the game, setting the tone for a dominant performance. Jeff Hardeveld doubled the lead twenty minutes later, and Youssef El Kachati sealed the victory with a third goal in the 75th minute, ensuring Telstar's place in the play-offs.
Telstar's captain, Mitch Apau, expressed his joy after the match, stating, "Here you have worked for years. I came back here three years ago and wanted to reach the play-offs. This is my last year, and now it has succeeded." Apau is set to leave for Spakenburg after the season unless Telstar achieves promotion.
Telstar's coach, Anthony Correia, praised the team’s performance, noting the increased intensity since he took over. "The KNVB could not have planned it better, and we could not have played it better," he said with a smile. Correia also highlighted the importance of the victory for Apau, who has been a key figure in the team.
As Telstar prepares for their upcoming play-off matches against ADO Den Haag on May 13 and May 17, 2025, the team is looking to build on this momentum. El Kachati, who received a standing ovation after his goal, reflected on his season, saying, "I think I could have done much more this season. I am a critical guy." He added, "Now it's time for a little celebration and preparation for the final stretch. Let's make the play-offs a great experience."
In contrast, Vitesse Arnhem ended their season on a disappointing note, despite a 3-1 victory over FC Den Bosch. The win was not enough to lift Vitesse from the bottom of the standings, as they finished with just five points, setting a negative record in Dutch professional football. This is the lowest point total ever recorded for a professional club in the Netherlands, surpassing their own previous record of six points from the last season.
Following the match, Vitesse parted ways with head coach John van den Brom, who was visibly emotional. The club's management has decided to seek a new direction, indicating a significant change ahead for the team.
Meanwhile, in another match on the final day of the season, ADO Den Haag triumphed over VVV-Venlo with an astonishing scoreline of 7-2. Daryl van Mieghem played a pivotal role in ADO's victory, contributing a goal and two assists in the first half. The match was a formality for both teams, as ADO had already secured their place in the play-offs, while VVV could not qualify.
On the same day, FC Volendam, who had already secured direct promotion alongside Excelsior, faced a heavy defeat against FC Dordrecht, losing 4-1. However, there was a silver lining for Volendam as Bilal Ould-Chikh set a new record by notching his 20th assist of the season, the most ever recorded in the first division since such statistics have been tracked.
As the play-offs approach, Telstar will look to harness the energy from their recent victory and the support of their fans to push for promotion to the Eredivisie, a league they last played in back in 1978. With the excitement building and the stakes higher than ever, the coming days promise to be thrilling for the club and its supporters.
