Rotterdam edges Pinoké in seven-goal thriller to reach final

Pinoké again had to do without captain Jacob Draper on Sunday. The Wales international had already missed the outward match after having to be sidelined two weeks earlier against HDM with a painful hamstring injury. On Ascension Day, cautious optimism about Draper's possible return sounded from the Stekneuzen camp, but it turned out to be little more than a smoke screen.

A little before three o'clock, the Schouten Zekerheid Stadium already turned into a churning crowd, after a singer had whipped up the crowd with 'The Most Beautiful Rock City'. The main stand was packed and ablaze before the match had even started. As the players emerged, the stadium was coloured green and white by the torches lit on the stands, while a metre-high canvas with the club logo was rolled out. This was exactly the atmosphere that makes the play-offs so special.

On their own pitch, Rotterdam delivered a riveting semi-final together with Pinoké. Before half-time, the two Rotterdam goals were answered almost immediately by the visitors from Amstelveen: 2-2. Also after half-time, Pinoké immediately made it 3-3 after Rotterdam's 3-2. In the final minute, Pepijn van der Heijden decided the game by pushing a penalty corner: 4-3. This caused the party to erupt. Rotterdam can continue to dream of its second ever national title.