Only two matches left in the final play-off! The decisive moment is getting closer.
Eric Ten Haag praised each player after the match, then told them to go home and rest well.
There are still 11 days before the final play-off match starts!
They must use this time to rest properly and prepare themselves to perform at their best in the away match against FC Volendam!
The players are fully aware of the importance of this moment, as the promotion ticket they're fighting for could significantly change the course of their careers.
After the euphoria of Go Ahead Eagles' qualification for the final play-off subsided, Eric Ten Haag quickly walked toward the medical room.
The excitement that had filled his face earlier had now faded, replaced by curiosity and concern.
Inside the room, Arghana was still lying on the treatment bed.
His breathing had become more regular, and he seemed to be regaining consciousness, although his body still felt heavy.
The medical team surrounded him, checking his condition with standard equipment.
"How is he?" Eric Ten Haag asked the team doctor directly.
The doctor sighed before responding, "Just like before, Coach.
No serious injury, just extreme fatigue."
Eric furrowed his brow. "Extreme fatigue? Arghana always gives his all on the field, but what confuses me is that he always faints after scoring goals in the final minutes.
This isn't the first time."
The doctor nodded but stuck to his conclusion. "Medically, we found nothing unusual.
His heart is normal, blood pressure stable. It's purely due to physical exhaustion."
Eric sighed deeply.
"Which player faints after scoring a goal?
I've been in football for the past 15 years, and I've never seen something like this."
He stared at Arghana, who was now trying to sit up, though his body still felt weak.
This young player had become the center of attention, not only for his contributions on the field but also for the mystery surrounding his condition.
"We can't ignore this," Eric muttered to himself. "There's something behind this, and I have to figure out what it is."
That night, Arghana lay in his bed, his mind full of thoughts about today's events.
That sensation… that moment… he felt it again.
It wasn't just luck—at least not in the usual sense.
There was something happening inside him. Something he couldn't explain.
Out of the eight matches he played, six of them he started.
And in those six matches, a particular pattern began to form.
The moment didn't just appear in the final 10 minutes like he had previously thought.
Does this mean he has to start every match to trigger it?
But there was one thing different this time.
Usually, the more tired he became, the more he could feel his focus and instincts improving.
But today… that moment appeared not just because of fatigue.
Could there be another factor? The situation in the match? The tension on the field?
He closed his eyes, remembering all the details—opposing crowds filling the penalty box, the roar of the home fans pushing down, and the pressure to save his team from defeat.
It wasn't just stamina that triggered it. There was something else at play here.
Arghana took a deep breath.
For now, he could only keep these speculations to himself and continue searching for the answer in the upcoming matches.
After a week of training and rest, Go Ahead Eagles traveled to FC Volendam's home ground for the first leg of the final play-off.
This match wasn't just about promotion to the Eredivisie, but also about pride and revenge.
FC Volendam had a mission to get even.
In addition to competing for promotion, Go Ahead Eagles had already dashed their hopes of winning the Eerste Divisie regular season title.
Now, FC Volendam wanted to repay that by stopping Go Ahead Eagles from advancing to the highest tier of Dutch football!
Arghana returned as a starter, now a key player in the team.
Meanwhile, the status of the main striker, Marnix Kolder, was still uncertain after recovering from his injury, and Eric Ten Haag didn't want to take risks by fielding him too soon.
Support from the fans was incredible.
As many as 300 loyal Go Ahead Eagles supporters traveled to De Dijk to provide live support, making it one of the highest-attended away matches of the season.
FC Volendam started the match aggressively.
They knew that winning the first leg would give them a significant advantage before heading to De Adelaarshorst for the second leg.
Meanwhile, Arghana played his usual role.
He wasn't just a threat in the attack, but also worked hard to help defend.
Compared to his debut over a month ago, he was now more mature.
He was able to read the game rhythm better and was becoming more in sync with his teammates.
In the 17th minute,
Arghana made a clean tackle to intercept an opponent's pass in the midfield.
The ball was immediately passed to Deniz Türüç, who then sent a through ball to Xander Houtkoop.
Xander Houtkoop tricked the defender before sending a pass to Quincy Promes, who surged from the right wing.
With one touch, Quincy Promes shot the ball into the bottom corner of the net!
GOAL!
Go Ahead Eagles led 1-0 away from home!
The players immediately celebrated the goal.
Although Quincy Promes scored, Arghana still received applause from his teammates.
Everyone knew it was his crucial tackle that started the fast break!
Meanwhile, FC Volendam didn't give up easily.
If they lost here, it would be even harder to turn things around in the second leg.
They began ramping up the intensity, pressing higher, and trying to create chances up front.
But this opened gaps in their defense.
In the 34th minute,
Go Ahead Eagles launched another fast counterattack!
Quincy Promes and Xander Houtkoop quickly moved forward.
Xander Houtkoop showed composure, sending a pass to the left side of the goal as he faced a one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Arghana came from behind!
Without interference, he held the ball for a moment, then calmly guided it into the empty net!
GOAL!
Arghana scored!
As the ball crossed the goal line and the net rippled, Arghana exploded with joy.
He ran aimlessly on the field, his fists raised in the air, his smile wide.
His teammates chased after him, cheering, and the stadium erupted in mixed reactions—shouts of victory from the away fans mingled with the groans of disappointment from the home supporters.
In the midst of the celebration, Arghana let out a small laugh, catching his breath.
"Haha! At least this time I can still stand!" he thought to himself, trying to calm down.
He straightened up, looking at the scoreboard, which now showed his team in the lead.
But in his mind, one thought nagged at him—so it's true, I fainted earlier just because of fatigue, not because of some curse after scoring a goal… right?
He immediately ran and hugged Xander Houtkoop as a thank you.
"This is my first goal without that weird moment…"
He caught his breath, feeling his heart pounding fast.
There was no strange sensation, no slowing of time, no inexplicable flashes.
It was just him—Arghana—and his own effort.
He looked up at the scoreboard, now showing his team's lead. His smile widened.
"So it's true… I can do it on my own."
But in the back of his mind, a small doubt remained, still not completely gone.
Was this just a coincidence? Or does this mean he really can score with just his own ability?
There was no time to think about it further.
The match wasn't over, and his team still had to stay focused.
With one deep breath, Arghana pushed all those questions aside for now and ran back to the center of the field, ready to continue the fight.
===
Eric Ten Haag smiled with satisfaction on the sidelines.
Go Ahead Eagles were leading 2-0 against FC Volendam!
FC Volendam was under increasing pressure.
If they lost at home by a big margin, their chances in the second leg would be slim.
The first half was even barely over, but it already felt like this match was as good as over!
At halftime, Eric Ten Haag decided to pull out his trio of forwards.
Arghana was a bit disappointed.
He wanted to tell Ten Haag, "I can still play!"
He hadn't even had the chance to experience that 'miracle' moment again!
But he understood the coach's decision.
There was still the second leg at De Adelaarshorst.
And that would be Go Ahead Eagles' final stage to secure their promotion!
They had already crushed FC Volendam's regular season title hopes.
Now, could they bury their dreams again and secure a spot in Eredivisie?