Willem II Advances to Play-off Final After Penalty Shootout Victory Over FC Dordrecht

Willem II edged past FC Dordrecht in a thrilling two-leg encounter, progressing after a dramatic penalty shootout following 120 minutes of exhilarating football.

After suffering a 2-1 defeat in the first leg in Dordrecht, Willem II knew they needed to win by at least two goals to reach the play-off final against Telstar. However, this was a tall order for a team that had yet to taste victory in 2025.

The home side started with a bang as Tommy St. Jago delivered a stunning strike from distance, sending the ball soaring into the top corner of the net, stunning the crowd at Koning Willem II Stadion.

In the seventh minute, Jens Mathijsen—son of former Netherlands international and HSV defender Joris Mathijsen—scored a scrappy goal, giving Willem II a pivotal advantage and sending the home fans into raptures.

However, Dordrecht quickly retaliated, with Jaden Slory finding the net through some clever play just eight minutes later, reducing the deficit.

The remainder of the first half was an action-packed affair, with both teams generating several chances, but it wasn’t until the 43rd minute that Willem II restored their two-goal lead via a free-kick scored by Boris Lambert.

The second half lacked the intensity of the first but was brought back to life in the 80th minute when Feyenoord loanee Jayson Ezeb, who had limited playing time this season, headed in a goal to make it 3-2, taking the match into extra time.

In a nail-biting moment shortly after, St. Jago and goalkeeper Thomas Didillon-Hodl nearly found themselves in disagreement, as the former almost redirected the ball into his own net, only for Didillon-Hodl to save the day with a vital intervention.

With the score tied after 120 minutes, the match went to penalties to determine who would move on to the playoff finals. The shootout commenced with eight flawless penalties. However, Brazilian midfielder Igor’s ninth attempt struck the post, giving Willem II the opportunity to seal the victory. Captain Jesse Bosch stepped up, faced down Dordrecht’s goalkeeper Celton Biai, who guessed correctly but was unable to make the save, allowing Bosch to win it for Willem II.

Willem II will now face the unexpected challenge of Telstar in the playoff finals, starting with an away leg in Velsen-Zuid on Thursday, followed by the return fixture in Tilburg on Sunday.