PSV beat Ajax on penalties to win KNVB Becquer

PSV defeated Ajax on Sunday to claim KNVB Beker for the fifth time this season. PSV won on penalties after an own goal from Jarad Branthwaite and a goal from Thorgan Hazard failed to separate the two teams.

When Joel Drommel was given the starting position, PSV manager Ruud van Nistelrooy stuck to his word. Van Nistelrooy has promised the second-choice keeper to start every cup match this season. Otherwise, the squad remains unchanged compared to the side he beat Ajax 3-0 in Eindhoven last week. Edson Alvarez returns to Ajax. He missed last week’s game on suspension. This was a repeat from last season when PSV beat Ajax in the final, where he scored 2-1.

The first chance of the match came in the 23rd minute. Xavi Simmons hit a low cross, but at a difficult angle for a winger, he hit it. Luuk de Jong was pushing for a penalty, but it was denied.

PSV’s biggest chance in the first half came after a disastrous mistake by Davy Klaassen. The experienced midfielder lost the ball in a dangerous position and was picked up by Luuk de Jong. However, his pass was well ahead of Guus Till, giving Ajax goalkeeper Jeronimo Lulli time to move away from the line and deflect a corner kick attempt.

Ajax took the lead with 3 minutes remaining in the first half. Stephen his Bergwijn created a goal against his former club. The winger dribbled past Jordan’s Taize before firing his cross hard across the box and Jarad his Brunswaite matched it into PSV’s goal. PSV were furious because he should have been given a CK just before the attack.

The match was marred by bust-ups and arguments between players, including five players being cautioned in the first half alone.

Ajax thought they had doubled their lead in the 54th minute. A chip from Devyne Rensch proved to be a tough ball to deal with for Teze, who lost the fight to Bergwijn and left him one-on-one between Brian Brobbey and Drommel. Blobby circled Drommel, but he hit the post.

PSV equalized after just 10 minutes. After going through the box, Simmons crossed to substitute Thorgan Hazard to shove the ball home.

Simmons continued to cause problems for Ajax as he nearly took advantage of Edson Alvarez’s failure. However, his volley was stopped by Jeronimo Lugli’s foot in the Ajax goal.

The game went into extra time and there were no big chances. After a long season for both teams, it was clear that players were exhausted and ready for penalties.

The penalties were as miss-laden as the match. Ibrahim Sangare and Andre Ramalho missed his PSV. This meant he advanced to his fifth and final penalty before sudden death. Edson Alvarez, one of his best players in the match, said that Drommel left Fabio Silva to change penalties and make PSV his KNVB Beker winner for 2023, just like he did last season. And I saw his penalty saved.