Telstar hosted Go Ahead Eagles in the quarter-finals of the KNVB Cup against the reigning cup holder 2025. Interesting detail: a few days later the clubs meet again in Deventer. The fans, players and staff smell opportunities and are already thinking of a semi-final that, if successful, would earn Telstar more than €200,000.
Telstar could use a boost after the ignominious 4-1 defeat in Zwolle. A handful of notable transactions on the last day of the transfer window. Gerald Alders (rental Jong Ajax), Nökkvi Thórisson (rental) and Jelani Seedorf (both Jong Sparta) joined Velsen-Zuid. Milan Zonneveld (Sparta) and Mohamed Hamdaoui (contract terminated), on the other hand, ended their stay. It was important for Telstar not to let it come down to penalties because Go Ahead Eagles closing post Jari de Busser has built up an enormous reputation as a penalty killer.
On the stroke of half time, Telstar strikes
Telstar initially had a hard time against the strong-willed one Eagles who saw Joris Kramer miss a huge opportunity after just four minutes of play. However, Telstar straightened up and saw Tyrese Noslin score, but Sem van Duijn had committed a minor foul moments earlier. Seconds before half time, another liberating goal for the White Lions. Tyrese Noslin passed from the right and Soufiane Hetli managed to hit the ball quite acrobatically in such a way that Jari de Busser had no answer; 1-0. The euphoria had no time halfway and that prompted former director Steef Hammerstein to give a very special and optimistic shout; “We’re going into Europe,” he echoed during the obligatory pause.
Telstar gives little away and reaches the last four
When Neville Nwankwo was childishly outplayed just after the break and let an opponent run away from his back, it was ultimately Alfons Sampsted who leveled the rivals and it looked like Telstar was going to have a hard time. A few minutes later, Jeff Hardeveld took a penalty after VAR intervention after Giovanni van Zwam touched the ball with his hand inside the penalty area; 2-1 The Deventers opted en masse for attack and saw their ball possession percentage increase drastically, but little to nothing was created. The calm way in which Daan Reizer Ronald Koeman Jr. perfectly, also played an important role.
Telstar took the victory relatively easily and after the final whistle a hurricane of joy and sound on an evening when the wind chill was well below freezing. The victory, however, warmed every Telstar supporter who is looking forward with more than average interest to Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. when it will be announced by drawing who Telstar will play against in the semi-final of the cup for the first time since 1992.
Debuting goalkeeper and trainer thoroughly enjoyed it
“Last night I heard that I would play. The start went well for me with a lot of easy balls. I emulate Ronald Koeman, because I can also play football. Telstar emphatically looked for someone who fits his profile,” Daan Reiziger responded after his professional debut at Telstar. The extremely relaxed Anthony Correia also remained calm as usual. “Enjoyed our team that operated as a team. Daan did a perfect job and the other newcomers also showed the will and mentality that we would like to see here. I also thought that we were sometimes very good at finding each other on the ball. I think we have become stronger in terms of width. Here is a happy person!”
Text: Hans Akkerman
Photo: Dennis Gouda Photography
