Cup football conjures a unique kind of magic, and we all feel its effects. Outstanding underdog stories can create or shatter the most captivating narratives in the beautiful game, and come Monday evening, romance may once again be in the air.
It’s a bank holiday Monday here in Australia, while in the Netherlands it’s referred to as Tweede Paasdag, or Second Easter Day. Despite what appears to be an overcast and unremarkable Easter Monday, there’s simply no reason not to indulge in a good dose of classic cup magic.
After seven thrilling rounds of cup football, including two qualifying stages for amateur sides, we are set for the spectacular finale of the Dutch KNVB Beker (18.00 CET) at the iconic Stadion Feijenoord, more affectionately known as De Kuip, located in Rotterdam.
Before we delve into the tale of the final, let’s reflect on the captivating and unpredictable journey that has led us to this extraordinary moment.
Pathway to Rotterdam
As many players were either still holidaying following the UEFA EUROs or just beginning their pre-season regimens, the fortunate amateur clubs in the Netherlands were closely monitoring the draw for the first round of the KNVB Beker qualifying rounds on July 17.
This draw led to intriguing matchups featuring some delightful clubs: Quick facing UNA, Hollandia taking on UDI’19, TEC up against URK, GOES clashing with Hercules, and SV Poortugaal battling ONS Sneek. The second qualifying round, held in late September, welcomed the biggest amateur teams and saw several fairytales unfold.
Kolping Boys from Oudorp and FC Winterswijk made history by qualifying for the main tournament for the very first time. Meanwhile, FC Rijnvogels contributed to a remarkable quintet of amateur clubs from the Katwijk area that progressed to the last 64, and the ambitious USV Hercules celebrated their third consecutive main draw appearance thanks to a thrilling winner in the 123rd minute.
With clubs that participated in European competitions exempt from the opening round, 58 teams contested for a spot in the last 32. Fourteen amateur teams faced off against professional clubs, with five emerging victorious. VV Noordwijk claimed a stunning 86th and 88th-minute comeback to down FC Dordrecht, BVV Barendrecht stunned Eredivisie side NAC Breda with a last-gasp winner, while Quick Boys from Katwijk decisively dispatched Almere City 3-0. Their neighbours, Rijnsburgse Boys, likewise triumphed over Roda JC with a 3-1 victory, and Koninklijke HFC edged past FC Emmen with a narrow 1-0 win.
The six teams that had represented the Netherlands in Europe, namely PSV, Feyenoord, Ajax, AZ, Go Ahead Eagles, and FC Twente, entered the tournament at the second round stage. The Eagles triumphed in penalties against Sparta, Feyenoord came back from 1-0 down to win 2-1 against MVV Maastricht, and Twente narrowly defeated VV Katwijk 3-2. Conversely, some professional teams were not as fortunate: third-tier outfit Quick Boys continued their magical journey by overcoming Fortuna Sittard 3-1, while their local rivals Noordwijk eliminated Willem II with a 2-1 surprise, and Rijnsburgse Boys dispatched FC Volendam 2-0.
Read more about Quick Boys’ incredible cup journey in this feature article
Premier League legend and Heerenveen manager Robin van Persie was quite clear about his hopes regarding a round of 16 matchup against Quick Boys: “I hope not.”
Unfortunately for him, his wishes were disregarded, and his team suffered a stunning elimination at the hands of Quick Boys, who triumphed 3-2 after extra time – their third Eredivisie scalp. Rijnsburgse Boys faced a harsher fate, falling 4-1 to reigning cup champions Feyenoord, but Noordwijk joined Quick Boys in the quarter-finals after edging BVV Barendrecht 1-0.
Ajax, on the other hand, were once again eliminated by AZ, who defeated them for the second time in just a month, while PSV survived a nail-biting encounter against Excelsior, winning 5-4. The Go Ahead Eagles turned around a 1-0 deficit to triumph over FC Twente 3-1, marking their fourth quarter-final appearance in the past 40 years.
The amateur fairytales came to an end as Quick Boys and Noordwijk were eliminated by AZ and Go Ahead Eagles respectively, leaving PSV as the only representative of the traditional top three in the semi-finals following a 2-0 victory against Feyenoord. Heracles Almelo rounded out the semi-finalists by overcoming FC Utrecht.
Now we’re caught up. So, who will pen the next chapter in the KNVB Beker’s storied history filled with enchanting tales?
The Warriors
The 107th KNVB Beker campaign and the 106th KNVB Beker final will see either AZ or Go Ahead Eagles claiming the celebrated ‘Pinecone’ trophy. For AZ, this would mark their fifth title in club history, and their first in 43 years. For Go Ahead Eagles, it would be their first major honour in a staggering 100 years.
AZ
This will be AZ’s eighth cup final, an appearance almost derailed after a challenging battle against Heracles Almelo, but the four-time winners clinched their place in the final after a tense penalty shootout that ended 4-3.
AZ is desperate to end a streak of two consecutive defeats in KNVB Beker finals. Their first came in the 2016/17 final when now-relegated Vitesse captured their first major championship by defeating AZ 2-0 thanks to a brace from former Norwich City striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel. The following year, Feyenoord outmanoeuvred the side from Alkmaar with a decisive 3-0 victory, highlighted by goals from Nicolai Jorgensen, Jens Toornstra, and now Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie.
Despite remaining competitive throughout, the 12-year trophy drought may seem surprising, but it pales in comparison to the narrative of their opponents.
Go Ahead Eagles
Established in 1902 as Be Quick, Go Ahead Eagles enjoyed early glory by clinching the national championship four times between 1917 and 1933. However, after the league system turned professional in 1954, the club faced years of challenges, winning only regional titles and failing to reclaim a spot at the pinnacle of Dutch football.
After finally reaching the Eredivisie in 1964, Go Ahead made their first cup final the following year, only to lose 1-0 to Feyenoord in a match that the players still contest was stolen from them due to a disputed goal. “You lose because of a decision that is not part of the game,” lamented goalkeeper Nico van Zoghel, now 81, during an interview with NOS.
This final appearance secured Go Ahead a place in the Europa Cup II, marking their first foray into European competition. A year prior to their famous Europa Cup match, Celtic dispatched Go Ahead with a comprehensive 7-0 aggregate scoreline.
The club enjoyed a long stint in the Eredivisie until 1987 when the fabled Adelaarshorst stadium witnessed Go Ahead drop down to the Eerste Divisie. They struggled to regain their place in the top tier until 2013, making two further promotions, the last one occurring in 2021.
Since their return, Go Ahead Eagles have achieved impressive league finishes of 13th, 11th, and 9th. The 2023/24 season brought great acclaim, culminating in their second-ever venture into European competition, only for Norwegian club SK Brann to eliminate them in the second qualifying round of the Conference League with a 2-1 win in Norway.
The Go Ahead Eagles have captured the hearts of many football fans across the Netherlands. What initially appeared as a smooth sailing under coach Rene Hake, who later joined Erik ten Hag’s staff at Manchester United, transformed into an exciting side under Paul Simonis. Despite losing standout striker Oliver Edvardsen to Ajax in January, the Eagles have continued to shine with impressive Nordic talents like Oliver Antman, who leads the Eredivisie with 14 assists, alongside Victor Edvardsen and Jakob Breum.
With their last major trophy dating back to 1933, Go Ahead Eagles are eager to realise their ambitions. A recent open training session just before the cup final attracted a passionate crowd, showcasing the community’s support for their first cup final appearance in six decades.
The stage is set. Will AZ claim their fifth KNVB Beker title, or will Go Ahead Eagles carve their name in history with their first-ever cup triumph?
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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