Diemen Sets Up D-Day

A brace from Pierre van Diemen led Totaalvoetbal to a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace and made sure that the title race would go right down to the wire.

The striker had set the hosts off on the right foot after a powerful long range shot after just 4 minutes.

Crystal Palace proved a determined opponent, however, and equalised through Mark Bright with just sixteen minutes left on the clock.

With time running out it was left to van Diemen to again beat Flahavan from distance to complete the victory and set up a thrilling climax to a superb season.Palace came with an edge to their play and set the tone with a first minute booking for Bernie Molseley.

Totaalvoetbal have seen this approach before and didn't let it effect them as they took an early lead. Horacio Metelo, often at the heart of the best of the home side, produced a good ball to free van Diemen. The forward quickly had the ball under control before rifling a shot into the net to ease the tension in the crowd.

Following another booking Palace pressed their hosts back for a spell in a show of defiance. Shefki Kuqi heading over when he, perhaps, should have done better.

Palace 'keeper Flahavan took a knock and would have been relieved that a Metelo free-kick didn't fully test him.

The early stages of the second-half saw Totaal have to reshuffle as Alexeij Ogliarki was the victim of some robust treatment and had to be replaced by Kenneth Timmer.

Forward van Diemen was in sparkling form and had another shot flash just wide.

Metelo had a free-kick effort go close as Totaal looked to extend their lead and settle nerves.

The away side weren't done, though, and Kuqi had another header go close, albeit under pressure from the excellent Oriol.

Within minutes Palace were level following a splendid strike from Mark Bright. Seeing nothing on in front of him the forward decided to hit a shot, the swerve deceiving Keizer and ending up in the goal.

Far from being disheartened the home side regrouped and attacked Palace again. Abbas Erol nearly producing a piece of magic with a lob that hit the bar.

They got their reward after 83 minutes after skipper Cees van Nisterooy slipped a pass through to van Diemen for the forward to lob Flahavan who had been caught off his line.

Totaal tried to extend their lead with a free-kick that found the head of Johan Juffing who in turn grazed the bar.

This was to be the last action as the home side held on for their victory and remained in second spot behind Hun Haters.

"We did what we had to." said Meeblind.

"Only just though. It was tight at the end but i've got to be delighted with the points.

"The division has got the final day it deserved really and may the best side win, be it ourselves, Hun Haters or ThunderCats."