ANPVreugde at Ajax after Sherida Spitse’s 2-1
NOS Voetbal•gisteren, 22:06
Ajax has reached the final of the KNVB women’s cup tournament at the expense of Feyenoord. At De Toekomst in Amsterdam, Ajax won 2-1 after extra time.
The other semi-final between Excelsior and Fortuna Sittard is on Wednesday. The final will be on May 20 at a location to be determined.
Ajax played against Feyenoord without top talent Lily Johannes, who had been passed over by outgoing coach Suzanne Bakker in favor of Jonna van de Velde.
Before halftime, the Amsterdam women had a field dominance over Feyenoord, which had been undefeated for six games in a row. The last defeat of coach Jessica Torny’s team was two months ago, in the Johan Cruijff Arena against Ajax (4-0).
Opportunities Feyenoord
Yet the best chances initially belonged to Feyenoord. Ella van Kerkhoven headed narrowly wide from a corner halfway through the first half and four minutes later she hit the post.
Confusion around Brandau before kick-off
Feyenoord decided to remove Justine Brandau from the line-up twenty minutes before kick-off, because it was unclear whether the defender had been suspended or not.
Brandau received two yellow cards in the cup tournament and was suspended according to the regulations, but the KNVB administration showed that she was eligible to play. “Apparently the KNVB can also make mistakes,” said Feyenoord coach Torny. “We didn’t take any risks.”
The Rotterdammers then decided to err on the side of caution and replaced Brandau with Noëlle van der Sluis.
The biggest chance for Ajax was an immediate hit in the 39th minute: a cross from Chasity Grant was tapped by Van der Sluis at the feet of Hoekstra, who then scored the 1-0.
Equalizer Feyenoord
Ajax pressed in the early stages of the second half, but Feyenoord leveled. A cross from Sanne Koopman was headed by Esmee de Graaf to Van Kerkhoven, who scored from the turn to make it 1-1.
ANPElla van Kerkhoven scores the equalizer against Ajax
There were no more goals in the second half, although Ajax increased the pressure in the final phase, which required extra time.
Penalty Ajax
In the first half of extra time the home team quickly scored. Grant gated De Graaf on the edge of the penalty area and was then held, after which the ball hit the spot. Captain Spitse used the opportunity impeccably for the 2-1.
Feyenoord went for the equalizer in the last fifteen minutes, had chances through De Graaf and Van Kerkhoven, but Ajax held on and can win the KNVB Cup for the sixth time on May 20.
Because of the victory, Ajax coach Bakker still has a chance to end her last season at Ajax with a prize. The national title seems to go to FC Twente this year, with a seven-point lead over Ajax, and the fairytale in the Champions League ended against Chelsea in the quarter-finals.
‘Feyenoord-worthy demise’
Feyenoord coach Torny was proud of her team despite the defeat. “It was a close finish, the players gave everything. We went down fighting and that is worthy of Feyenoord.”
Torny: ‘Dinished fighting, that is worthy of Feyenoord’
2024-04-16 20:06:55
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