🇳🇱 PSV down Ajax on penalties to retain KNVB Cup | OneFootball

PSV Eindhoven won the KNVB Cup on Sunday after a penalty shoot out against Ajax.

Scorers: Branthwait 42′ (OG); Hazard 57′

A jam-packed De Kuip helped create a thrilling atmosphere as two Eredivisie giants went head to head, hoping to lift the trophy.

Ajax dominated the game in terms of possession but struggled to find their scoring touch to put PSV to the sword and subsequently needed a bit of luck to find the back of the net with zero shots on target all game.

Just before the break, Steven Bergwijn’s strike deflected off Jarrad Branthwaite for the first own goal by an outfield player in a KNVB Cup final since 1996.

Yet their inability to put the game away came back to bite them as PSV entered the second half with newfound confidence.

Loanee Thorgan Hazard proved the hero off the bench, capitalised on a flatfooted defence, made space in the box, and stabbed home beyond Gerónimo Rulli for 1-1.

The likes of captain Dušan Tadić and Brian Brobbey (who hit the post before the equaliser) struggled to click into gear for Ajax, while Xavi Simons saw a handful of efforts fall short at the other end.

The match then went into extra time and neither side could grind out a late winner seeing the game go to penalties for the first time since 2009.

In the end, Brian Brobbey, Jurien Timber and Edson Álvarez missed and Fabio Silva slotted home the decisive penalty for PSV to retain their trophy while Ajax end the season without a title.