Go Ahead Eagles win their first KNVB Cup with penalty triumph over AZ | OneFootball

Go Ahead Eagles have won the KNVB Cup for the first time in the club’s history. Paul Simonis’ fairytale team escaped a narrow defeat against AZ in regular playing time and eventually won the final in Rotterdam on penalties. As a result, Go Ahead will enter the group stage of the Europa League next season. Recap all the action with Voetbal International‘s report.

AZ started better despite missing their injured captain Jordy Clasie. They had the best chance of the first half in the 20th minute, when Troy Parrott forced Jari De Busser to tip onto the post in agile fashion.

Go Ahead then grew into the game and got their best chance via Victor Edvardsen, whose shot went straight to Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro. Two dangerous crosses just before the break yielded nothing, and so the first half ended goalless. After half-time, the final got going.

Although the second half kick off was briefly delayed by fireworks from the Go Ahead supporters, causing a lot of smoke in the stadium, when the ball started rolling again, AZ were awarded a penalty quickly. Joris Kramer caught Ernest Poku in the side with a high leg and Danny Makkelie, after reviewing the VAR images, put the ball on the spot.

Parrott stepped up confidently for penalty duty, but shot very weakly at De Busser before Mathis Suray cleared. However, the VAR determined that Suray had come in too early, so the penalty had to be retaken. This time Parrott was successful: 1-0 on 54 minutes.

Shortly after this goal, Parrott was injured – he had just been prepared in time for the cup final – and he saw all sorts of things happening from the sidelines. First, Ruben van Bommel shot into the side netting, then Oliver Antman came very close to equalising on the other side. Later, AZ survived a situation in which Go Ahead fired three shots on goal in a few seconds.

Ten minutes before the end, Simonis made a double substitution, bringing on Finn Stokkers and Søren Tengstedt. The latter had the chance to equalise shortly after his entrance as Edvardsen got to the ball before Owusu-Oduro, rounding the goalkeeper and pulling back. He almost had an empty goal in front of him, but somehow shot into the side netting.

After that, there seemed to be little more to worry about for AZ, who took control of the match. Meerdink had two huge chances to decide the final in the nine minutes of added time, but De Busser kept his team on their feet, with two great saves. On the other side, Tengstedt had another huge chance to make it 1-1. This time, however, he found Owusu-Oduru in his path.

AZ looked to drag the narrow lead over the line, but Peer Koopmeiners made a strange dive and handled inside his own penalty area to give the Eagles a route back in from 12 yards. Mats Deijl remained ice cold and slotted in for 1-1 before extra time was signalled.

In extra time, AZ looked the better team, but De Busser did well to deny all that came his way. Up the other end, Milan Smit had another big chance: however, he shot wide, ultimately sending the final to a penalty shootout. De Busser stole the show and earned lifetime hero status in Deventer by stopping both Zico Buurmeester and Mayckel Lahdo before the efficient Eagles’ soared with Julius Dirksen powering in the decisive penalty for 2-4.

Go Ahead have now won their second cup final ever and will enter the group stage of the Europa League next season. AZ, which has not won its last six Eredivisie matches, will have to try to earn a European spot in the competition the hard way. Of course, this can also be done via the play-offs.

GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield