AFC’s cup fairytale has come to an end. The second division player found his waterloo in Arnhem against Vitesse. A goal by Davy Pröpper was the deciding factor: 1-0.
A supporters bus with 400 AFC fans headed determinedly towards Arnhem on Thursday afternoon. They saw a lackluster opening phase from both teams from the away section. Melvin Platje produced a soft roller, while Davy Pröpper shot high. Vitesse took the initiative after the bad start and scored the opening goal in three instances.
First Mica Pinto shot at goalkeeper Gijs van Zetten, after which Purmerender Million Manhoef also found the keeper on the rebound. Pröpper made it 1-0 from a cross from Dominik Oroz. Vitesse then seemed loose and the home team became dangerous several times through Gyan de Regt and Andy Visser. Van Zetten kept his team going in this phase.
Pröpper’s 1-0 in pictures. Text continues below the X-post.
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The Arnhem team continued in the second half, ending the first: attacking. Van Regt was given a gigantic opportunity (saved by Van Zetten) and so was Manhoef (ball on the post). Cup hero Wessel Been, who came on at the start of the restart, created the first Amsterdam chance. However, his effort went wide of the goal via goalkeeper Markus Schubert.
AFC and Vitesse shouted for a penalty, but in both cases referee Alex Bos waved it away. The home team seemed to make it 2-0. Seemed like, since creator Toni Domgjoni was sidelined. Before the end of the match, the Amsterdam team had the chance to score an equalizer. Only it wasn’t spent on Been and Claver. Ramon Hendriks took another ball off the line. That ultimately proved fatal for AFC, which lost.
Due to the elimination of AFC, AZ is the only remaining North Holland club in the cup tournament. The draw for the quarter-finals will be made next Saturday evening in the Grandstand on ESPN.
AFC line-up: Van Zetten; Van Kempen, Maatsen, Linthorst, Van Weerdenburg, Claver; Benninga, Hoek, De Mooij; Siali, Platje