Ajax as the last club to reach the semi-finals after a carefree evening against De Graafschap | Dutch football

Ajax traveled to the Achterhoek with the knowledge that it had to prevent a new trauma on the Vijverberg and a second resounding surprise in the quarter-finals of the cup tournament. Even with seven reserves, the Superboeren never came close to a stunt like seven years ago, when Ajax was held in the final round of the Eredivisie of the title, or like amateur club Spakenburg on Tuesday for one of the biggest cup stunts ever by the cup aspirations of eredivisionist Utrecht demolished.

But the dream of the passionate supporters of the number thirteen of the first division to also block Ajax’s way to the pine cone, to be linked to Spakenburg on Saturday and then to flock to De Kuip, only lasted a quarter of a match. After Alexander Buttner saw another tight shot being cracked, two players who got the chance from coach John Heitinga helped the score. The good action and cross with the left came from Brian Brobbey, after which the run-in Jorge Sánchez crowned his first starting spot since the trainer change with a nice, unruly volley.

In addition to that duo, 16-year-old left back Jorrel Hato, keeper Remko Pasveer and midfielder Florian Grillitsch van Heitinga, among others, had the opportunity to gain rhythm and confidence in the quarterfinals. The latter seized that opportunity. The Austrian, who had just recovered from an injury, led the decision as a handy playmaker after 25 minutes by serving Steven Bergwijn. The expensive left winger was one of the four players who were allowed to stand, also because he yearned for a goal. Bergwijn also found this for the first time since November 12, when he was accurate against Emmen (3-3) with his trademark. Thus, with the dribble in and the hard shot in the top corner, Bergwijn ended his months-long drought in Doetinchem (0-2).

Ajax, which often shot defensively this season, did not collect a goal against. This was prevented by the VAR, when Camiel Neghli – still good for a hat-trick against Eindhoven on Saturday – thought he had scored the connection goal just after the break. Richard Roelofsen’s team, who has been replacing the sick Adrie Poldervaart for weeks, bit more in the second half and with the support of the Spinnenkop as well. They didn’t get a goal and more tension there, also because Pasveer prevented Joel Valencia from scoring and Giovanni Korte touched a cross from the side too lightly.

The last glimmer of hope caused Rio Hillen, who was trained at Ajax, to evaporate. His mistake was punished by Brobbey. Ajax, for example, won the fifth consecutive ticket for the semi-final with a relatively simple 0-3 win. In the first week of April, last year’s losing finalist, who was killed in the Europa League last week, can meet classic rivals Feyenoord and PSV and the amateurs of Spakenburg, whose stunt the staff previously appointed as a warning. On Saturday evening, Ajax will know who it will have to deal with in the first week of April in order to recapture the KNVB Cup in De Kuip later that month.