PSV has qualified for the final of the KNVB Cup tournament for the second year in a row. The title holder was too strong for the amateurs of Spakenburg in the semi-final, who play in the second division: 1-2. Sportpark De Westmaat was occupied to the last place with 6300 spectators.
PSV will face Feyenoord or Ajax in the final on Sunday 30 April in De Kuip. Those two clubs will meet in the other semi-final on Wednesday. Last season, PSV won the cup final against Ajax 2-1.
With the elimination of Spakenburg, the KNVB also does not have to consider whether the final should be played on another day. The Christian football club, which is currently in tenth place in the second division, has stated in its statutes that it will never play on Sundays.
Irritations
PSV had a hard time with Spakenburg for a long time, which tried to give little space away and was not afraid to take on the duels. The many minor fouls caused irritation at PSV, which had a nice chance through Guus Til in the initial phase. It then took until the 32nd minute before PSV came close to scoring again. Keeper Alessandro Damen tipped the ball over after a shot by Patrick van Aanholt.
Just when Spakenburg thought he could take the break with a draw, PSV struck. Defender André Ramalho extended the ball from a corner kick with his head, after which Erick Gutiérrez was able to score from close range: 0-1.
Exuberant atmosphere
After a nice pass from Xavi Simons, Van Aanholt scored PSV’s second goal in the first minute after the break. The team from Eindhoven still seemed to be on its way to a big victory, but Spakenburg fought back in the game. A brilliant goal brought the tension back. After a deflected corner kick, left back Dwayne Green shot the ball from about 35 meters over goalkeeper Joël Drommel, who was standing a little too far in front of his goal: 1-2.
The goal led to an even more exuberant atmosphere in the stands and the adjacent sports hall, where people who did not have a ticket for the stands watched the game on a big screen.
Despite a number of chances, PSV did not succeed in extending the lead, which kept the tension in the game until the very end.