FC Groningen is heading for a special final match with Roda: ‘It will be a cup final of sorts’ | Football

It promises to be a very special final part of the Kitchen Champion Division season on Friday, May 10. There is a good chance that FC Groningen and Roda JC will compete for promotion in a mutual match in the Euroborg in the last round.

“That will be a crazy match,” says FC Groningen captain Leandro Bacuna. “It feels like a cup final.”

FC Groningen (away at Willem II) and Roda JC (away at Jong Ajax) were both stuck at a 1-1 draw on Friday evening. The difference between the two clubs is therefore still one point in favor of Roda JC, with two matches to go.

The top two of the Kitchen Champion Division are promoted directly to the Eredivisie. Willem II is almost certain of one of those two tickets. The leader still needs one point. The tension now lies mainly with number two Roda JC and number three FC Groningen.

“We are still in the race for promotion,” says Jorg Schreuders, who scored the Groningen equalizer in Tilburg after the break. “We really wanted to win against Willem II, but now we also cherish the point. Especially because we had to come back from behind.”

The nervousness that came with the last matches is new for Schreuders. The talent comes from the youth academy of FC Groningen and has broken through this season.

“It’s just really exciting,” says the nineteen-year-old midfielder. “Family and friends have been saying all season that we should be promoted. I understand that the tension is even greater for them, because they have no control over how we play.”

Schreuders, who grew up in Groningen, finds it special that he can play for promotion with ‘his’ club with other boys from the youth academy – such as Thijmen Blokzijl, Romano Postema and Luciano Valente.

“I really play with my friends. Together we want to bring the club back to where we belong: the Eredivisie.”