February signals the business end of cup campaigns all across Europe. The Netherlands, of course, is no different. Read on, as this article looks back at all the KNVB Cup‘s quarter-final drama that took place this week.
The Heraclieden stun the Cupfighters: Heracles Almelo 2-0 Utrecht
Heracles Almelo booked their place in the semi-finals on Tuesday with an inspired performance against Ron Jans’ high-flying Utrecht.
Beating the Eredivisie’s current third-place team, Erwin van de Looi’s side threw league form out the window with a determined performance that saw them hit the post inside the first five minutes before grabbing the deadlock breaker in the eighth minute.
Thomas Bruns peeled back from the right and crossed for Luka Kulenovic in the box. The Bosnian forward initially botched his volleyed touch on goal, yet with the Utrecht defence slow to react, he was able to back-heel into the bottom-right corner smartly.
The second and ultimately decisive goal also arrived in the first half and it followed some absolute wizardry from Jan Zamburek.
Full-back Mats Rots made a great run inwards from the left in the 33rd minute and the Czech midfielder floated a beauty of a ball over the visiting backline, enabling him to volley a touch past a stranded keeper in Vasilios Barkas.
PSV dispatch Feyenoord as Johan Bakayoko continues to shine: PSV 2-0 Feyenoord
Eredivisie-leaders PSV made sure they kept themselves in contention for a league and cup double on Wednesday, as they put two past Feyenoord at the Philips Stadion.
The hosts started brightly, with Johan Bakayoko immediately adding to his ever-rising market value in the eighth minute. The Belgian left heads spinning as he carved infield from the right before playing a box-bound one-two with Luuk de Jong and slotting the ball into the bottom-left corner with precision.
Although Brian Priske’s away side tried their best to get back into the game, they were denied by an inspired Joel Drommel. Drommel made numerous high-level stops, including a fine stretching overhand from Givairo Read’s top-left corner-bound strike from range.
Before the half was out, Priske’s side were left aggrieved as Rick Karsdorp’s carving down of Igor Paixao in the area went unpunished. Yet, following further pressure and two goal-line scrambles, the second half had worse things to come as the hosts doubled their advantage.
With Rotterdam old-boy Tyrell Malacia in attendance following his loan move from Manchester United, there was a hint of familiarity about this clash. Devastatingly adding to this, was another familiar face Guus Til as he tapped home from close range following an Ismael Saibari pull back across with 20 minutes remaining on the clock.
Eagles swoop down on Nordwijk: Go Ahead Eagles 3-1 Noordwijk
Closing the book on what has been a pretty impressive KNVB Cup fairytale, Go Ahead Eagles put three past Noordwijk at De Adelaarshorst to go through to the semis. With notable wins against Dordrecht, Willem II and Barendrecht, Noordwijk perhaps arrived with another dramatic fixture in mind.
However, they were crashed back down to earth as Mathis Suray thundered the first goal into the top-left corner from the edge of the box in the 28th minute. They did put up a reputable fight, keeping the score the same before a ridiculous closing stage saw three goals materialise.
First, the visitors’ Dylan Rietveld nodded past his own keeper in the 73rd minute, before Giovanni da Fonseca added to the self-inflicted misery with another own goal five minutes later. Practically right after the restart, Ruben Marbas’ consolation meant Noordwijk left on a high, yet GAE ended the day victorious.
Quick Boys’ momentum slows as AZ Alkmaar prove too strong: AZ Alkmaar 3-1 Quick Boys
After picking up a reputation for giant killings in the cup, Quick Boys were sure to make things tricky for AZ. Although Jayden Addis gave the hosts the lead in the 33rd minute, an excellent team move followed shortly afterwards, leading to Patrick Brouwer slotting in an equalise for the ‘Blue White Jesters’.
AZ then missed several chances before a foul on Mayckel Lahdo in the 57th minute led to Troy Parrott making it 2-1 from the penalty spot.
Kees Smit then rounded off the win in the 96th minute, but Quick Boys still returned to Katwijk aan Zee with their heads held high as the campaign saw them beat Almere City, Fortuna Sittard, and sc Heerenveen.
