Women's teams Rotterdam and HDM maintain top level

NIJMEGEN - ROTTERDAM 3-0

Nijmegen seemed to be facing an impossible task against Rotterdam, but within a minute Marjolein Bogers opened the scoring. Four minutes later, it was already 2-0, thanks to a well-aimed flat by Sanne Vormeer from a penalty corner.

Rotterdam's defence faltered. The team hardly moved from their own half and coach Jorge Nolte roared hoarsely on the sideline in an attempt to wake up his players.

Nijmegen pressed on and was close to a third goal. Rotterdam goalkeeper Olivia van der Knaap kept her team on their toes. Twice she emerged victorious when Tessa Verweijen stormed towards her goal alone.

The third Nijmegen goal came after all. With 2.5 minutes left on the clock, coach Martin van de Rakt pulled his goalkeeper aside for an extra field player. The risk was rewarded: Louise van Meteren gave the final touch on the goal line and brought the total score to 4-4.

Shoot-outs had to bring the decision, in which Rotterdam proved to be cooler. Bobbi Dijk, Emma van Santbrink and Merel Boekhorst scored. Only Tessa Verweijen found the net on behalf of Nijmegen. As a result, Rotterdam remains in the Hoofdklasse for another season. For Nijmegen, the disappointment of a heroic battle without reward remains.

LEONIDAS - HDM 0-3

After the 1-0 defeat in The Hague, Leonidas knew it had to score at least twice to be promoted. The Rotterdam home team started furiously. Babs Uijtdewilligen intercepted a pass, stormed up and lashed out, but saw her shot go wide. Goalkeeper Julia Remmerswaal was under pressure immediately, but kept HDM on their feet with a couple of excellent saves.

Slowly the match turned. HDM got into the game better and had an excellent chance for the opening goal through Sabine van den Eijnden. Not much later, Kaat Walhof found the long corner with a dry pop and put HDM up 1-0. A bummer for Leonidas, which thought it would soon equalise through Mikki Roolaart. But her goal was disallowed due to an earlier whistle for a foul - to the frustration of everyone and everything at Leonidas.

The foul was punished with a penalty stroke, but for the second time Leonidas failed from the spot. Like on Saturday, Minke Boeijenga came face to face with Remmerswaal, but again HDM's goalkeeper emerged victorious.

In the third quarter, HDM struck mercilessly. Margot van Hecking Colenbrander dragged in a penalty corner and doubled the margin: 2-0. The game seemed to have been played. Leonidas still tried, with another chance for Roolaart, but her shot was turned away by Remmerswaal with her foot. And when Lotte Beetsma drove the ball into the far corner midway through the fourth quarter, the game was definitely decided: 3-0.

In the closing stages, Leonidas was awarded another penalty stroke, but it too failed to go in. Eva Verkerk pushed wide from the spot. HDM extended its stay at the highest level with another year. Leonidas will return to the Promotieklasse next season.