Cambuur Leeuwarden could've clinched promotion to the Dutch Eredivisie with a home win over 19th-placed Jong AZ. Cambuur fell behind twice, with Jong AZ scoring ten minutes into each half, but fought back and grabbed the lead with two quick goals in the 78th and 81st minutes.
With the finish line in sight and promotion seemingly imminent, the home fans started preemptively celebrating returning to the Eredivisie. A Jong AZ corner ruined the festivities, however, as a header was stopped by Cambuur midfielder Remco Balk, who replicated Luis Suárez's handy save against Ghana at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and kept the ball out of Thijs Jansen's goal with a volleyball smash.
Balk was issued a red card, and Jong AZ were given a penalty in the 86th minute. Striker Yoel van den Ban took the ball, but slipped during the run-up and scored the penalty with two touches: as he slipped, Van den Ban struck the ball with his right foot, after which it deflected off his left foot and bounced right through the middle of Jansen's goal.
Referee Wouter Wiersma didn't spot the offence, nor did his assistant. With VAR not present at the Dutch second level, ruling out the goal was out of the question. Much to the dismay of the home fans, who threw objects onto the pitch, prompting Wiersma to temporarily suspend the match.
It all went from bad to worse for Cambuur thereafter: instead of scoring a heroic injury-time promotion-clinching goal, Bendeguz Kovacz volleyed the ball into Cambuur's goal in the 93rd minute, giving Jong AZ a shocking lead - one they wouldn't give away after the game was suspended a second time, this time due to a Cambuur fan storming the pitch and trying to pick a fight with the celebrating Jong AZ players.
Cambuur could've clinched their first promotion since 2021 with a win, with the Frisian side only needing De Graafschap to lose to or draw with league leaders ADO Den Haag on Sunday to guarantee a dream return. Cambuur will now have to wait until at least Monday, when the away game at FC Emmen could end all doubt.
