Twente defeat Ajax to lift Dutch Cup trophy
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FC Twente won the 93rd edition of the Dutch Cup final on Sunday in Rotterdam by beating Ajax 3-2 thanks to a Marc Janko's header in the final minutes of extra-time, which is Twente's third "KNVB Beker" after victories in 1977 and 2001.
The winning coach Michel Preud homme praised the quality of the final by saying: "It was a great spectacle with two teams playing sometimes good football and with the fans creating a great atmosphere."
The reigning Dutch champions and current league leaders Twente started the match in Feyenoord Stadium "De Kuip" creating some minor chances with forwards Luuk de Jong and Bryan Ruiz missing the target. They also forced Ajax to make mistakes on midfield, but did not benefit from those faults.
Out of the blue Ajax took the lead. Demy de Zeeuw moved himself in shooting position and passed veteran goal keeper Sander Boschker, who was giving a starting place instead of the regular league goalie Nikolay Mihaylov. With more chances for De Jong and Nacer Chadli Twente seemed not impressed by the opponent's lead and stayed calm.
However, Ajax found another hole in the Twente defense and Lorenzo Ebecilio surprised Boschker in the 40th minute with a shot which was slightly touched by Twente player Wout Brama. Just before halftime Twente came back into the match when Brama finally was able to beat Ajax goal keeper Kenneth Vermeer.
"They were more effective, but we were not playing bad," Preud homme added. "Brama's goal was very important to give us a bit more confidence."
In the second half, Twente pushed Ajax back more and more and a goal seemed inevitable. The equalizer came in the 56th minute when Theo Janssen finished a Luuk de Jong cross after a nice attack on the left side of the field.
Ajax was able to recover from that blow and was even able to push Twente back. Ebecilio was close to giving Ajax the lead again, but his shot hit the post. Siem de Jong, brother of Twente striker Luuk de Jong, also moved himself into scoring position. His shot went wide. With Luuk de Jong heading wide in injury-time both teams did not score in the remainder of the 90 minutes and extra time was necessary.
In the first half of extra time, Ajax substitute Daley Blind was close to scoring with a header on the crossbar and Boschker prevented an Ajax goal by saving a Siem de Jong shot. Four minutes before the final whistle, Twente were given a free-kick on the right side of the pitch. Theo Janssen curled the ball into the penalty-area with his left foot and substitute Marc Janko headed in the winning goal.
Ajax coach Frank de Boer was disappointed by the result, but satisfied with his team's performance. "After the first fifteen, 20 minutes of the second half we dominated the match until the final minutes of extra time," he told during the press conference. "We could have decided the game in extra time. We dominated, but also lost a little bit of power on the wings. After all I have seen enough positive things for the next encounter.
Both teams have one week to recover from the battle in Rotterdam. Next Sunday the league title will be decided when Ajax take on reigning champions Twente in Amsterdam.
