Willem II cannot be stopped in the Kitchen Champion Division, but he can in the TOTO KNVB Cup. FC Groningen was too strong for the Tilburg team on Tuesday evening with 1-3, who can therefore fully focus on the competition. Starting with the derby next Friday away at arch-rival NAC Breda. FC Eindhoven also lost 0-2 to Fortuna Sittard in the second round of the cup earlier in the evening.
Under coach Peter Maes, Willem II won all matches in its own King Willem II Stadium. The Belgian opted for a number of new faces in the starting line-up in the cup match. For example, Connor van den Berg took his place under the bar, Amine Lachkar started and 17-year-old talent Khaled Razak was given the confidence up front. The visitors from Groningen took the lead after 21 minutes through Luciano Valente and that was also the half-time score.
With the support of the noisy crowd, the home team hunted for the equalizer. It came in the 55th minute by Jesse Bosch. Lachkar had a great chance to take the lead just under ten minutes later, but his shot went just wide.
The Groningers handled their opportunities better. Laros Duarte took a hard shot fifteen minutes before the end and was lucky that his bet was touched by a Tilburg leg: 1-2. A striking penalty from Romano Postema in the final phase was the final decision: 1-3. And so the first home defeat led by Maes was a fact.
FC Eindhoven – Fortuna Sittard
FC Eindhoven had qualified for the second round by beating TOP Oss 0-1 at the beginning of November. It was not a dream draw after that, but the number ten of the Eredivisie came to visit with Fortuna Sittard. A mid-range player that was a size too big for the number ten of the Kitchen Champion Division.
In the first half there were chances on both sides, but only the Limburgers scored after half an hour of play. Tijjani Noslin, who played for TOP Oss for a short time two seasons ago, outwitted FC Eindhoven goalkeeper Jorn Brondeel by sending in a cross. Noslin had actually been suspended due to a red card against NEC, but his club had successfully appealed. This allowed the attacker to participate.
Fortuna Sittard doubled its lead early in the second half. Attacker Kaj Sierhuis cleverly shot the 0-2 against the ropes. FC Eindhoven was unable to make things difficult for the visitors in the remainder of the second half.
Defeats
Due to the defeats of Willem II and FC Eindhoven, PSV is the only Brabant club that can continue another round. FC Twente will be the opponent in the Philips Stadium next Thursday evening. NAC Breda, TOP Oss, FC Den Bosch, RKC Waalwijk, Helmond Sport and amateur clubs UNA and OJC Rosmalen already finished in the first round.