Location: Sports complex the Herdgang
Finally the time had come. The cup final between the C1 teams of Ajax and PSV! Just like last season, this was the scene of the cup final for the C youth. And just like last year, the match was played on Eindhoven soil. In 2013 still on "neutral" ground at Brabantia. This season the venue was De Herdgang. Not that the field would be in favor of the home team. Because the new artificial turf pitch on the main field has only just been installed....

Under a lovely sun and lots of spectators, the game kicked off after the sprinkler system finally stopped.

The first opportunity was for PSV when captain Armando Obispo played a long ball to Yasin Aalillou. His cross ended up with striker Cody Gakpo, who then tried to put Amar Catić in position. But unfortunately his wide pass was just too soft to give Amar the opportunity to strike in one go. Ajax already had more ball possession than the Eindhoven team in that phase. Yet PSV took an early lead: Yasin received the ball on the edge of the 16-yard box and sent two Ajax players into the woods (Philips). Followed by a short, nifty shot into the short corner. Leaving the Ajax goalie defenseless, he put the 1-0 on the scoreboard. What a start to the final!

After this goal, Ajax remained the team with the most ball possession. And PSV struggled to get under the pressure. After fifteen minutes, Edwin de Wijs' team showed seriousness again in the Amsterdam half. But ball loss and a quick switch by Ajax gave the guests the equalizer. A deep ball ended up between the last line and the outgoing goalkeeper Arne Lekens. However, the water-fast right-winger was first to the ball and lifted the ball over Arne high into the goal: 1-1.

After the equalizer Ajax took the initiative even more emphatically and PSV fought for every meter. Ajax also got chances through a cunningly taken free kick and a distance shot. But PSV also came through dangerously in the 23rd minute. From an almost identical situation to the equalizer, Amar almost scored the 2-1. His ball went narrowly off the wrong side of the post.

In the 27th minute Leandro Fernandes sent the deep midfielder Justin Lonwijk into the depths. He was able to run towards the outflowing goalkeeper who could do nothing but torpedo Justin outside the 16 meters. The referee, however, let the game continue instead of awarding a free kick and a (red) card. In his eyes it was an unfortunate collision. I prefer to talk about an unfortunate decision. After Ajax saw a chance slipped wide, and PSV saw a shot by Gaétan Bosiers go just over, both teams went to rest 1-1.

In the 2nd half, the roles were reversed: PSV was the better team and also created chances. The Ajax goalie had to act on a free kick by Leandro. And a little later saw a header from the same player end up on the roof of the goal after a fine cross from Gaétan.

In the 48th it was even very close to a lead when Amar received the ball on the sideline near the halfway line. He went on an adventure and slalomed a la Roberto Tomba through the Ajax defense. Unfortunately, the goalkeeper could narrowly save.

A minute later, however, it was suddenly 1-2 on the scoreboard. Completely against the proportions at the time. PSV had to force something and soon sacrificed a defender for an extra attacker. However, this gave Ajax a lot of space, and that with their fast forwards. An attractive game at the cutting edge unfolded in front of the spectators. Ajax seemed to lock up the game when the arrow-shaped right-winger advanced towards Arne. Fortunately, he hit the side netting. A minute later PSV had all the luck in the world when a free kick by Leandro at the 2nd post hit the inside of the post and came back into the field. After which the rebound was also not shot in.

PSV pressed but also saw the clock continue ticking. Wondering if the referee would add enough time for the numerous injury treatments. Especially on the Ajax side, many players were suffering from "cramp symptoms." But that seems to be part of the game these days.

Unfortunately it was not PSV that scored the equalizer in the absolute closing stages, but Ajax who in the last minute lifted the score to 1-3 after a long kick from the goalkeeper put an Ajax player alone in front of Arne. A strong dribble by substitute Sekou Sidibe still caused great turmoil for Ajax, but Cody just couldn't finish to make the closing stages exciting. That deep into injury time Ajax scored once more is just for the statistics.

PSV lost the cup final heavily flattered with 1-4. But can look back on a fine match in which it was the underlying party in the first half and clearly the better one in the second. But the game is ultimately about who scores the most. And that was Ajax.

The big winner was the crowd who, especially for a final, were presented with a most enjoyable duel!!!


Arne Lekens; Baggio Wallenburg, Aboubacar Kone (55' Sekou Sidibe), Armando Obispo (c), Gaétan Bosiers; Robin Schoonbrood (69' Davy van de Berg), Leandro Fernandes, Justin Lonwijk; Amar Catiç, Cody Gakpo, Yasin Aalillou.