Roger Schmidt, coach of PSV Eindhoven, stands on the sidelines. Photo: Maurice Van Steen/ANP/dpa. (Source: dpa)
Rotterdam (AP) – The outgoing coach Roger Schmidt has won the cup with PSV Eindhoven and ex-world champion Mario Götze to say goodbye.
Eindhoven beat Ajax Amsterdam 2-1 (0-1) and triumphed for the tenth time in the Dutch Football Cup. It was PSV’s first title in this competition since 2012, while Ajax gambled away their third win in a row and their chance for the double.
In the championship, the record cup winners are four points ahead of Eindhoven at the top of the table five games before the end of the season. In the Champions League, on the other hand, Ajax was eliminated in the round of 16, before the season the club had already lost the Supercup game against PSV and Schmidt. The former Leverkusen Bundesliga coach is now saying goodbye to Eindhoven with two titles. Most recently, the team failed in the semifinals of the Conference League.
Dutchman Ryan Gravenberch gave Ajax the lead after a one-two with former Bremen player Davy Klaassen (23rd minute). PSV turned the game around after the break with a double from Erick Gutierrez (48′) and Cody Gakpo (50′). Ajax coach Erik ten Hag, who according to media reports is about to move to English club Manchester United, only has one chance at the title left.