With a ticket to the final at stake, PSV will take on SV Spakenburg on Tuesday night. The amateur team from the fishing village is currently experiencing a cup fairy tale. Yet PSV will have to put an end to that if it wants to be in consecutive finals for the first time since 2012-2013.
PSV advanced to the final in its last five semifinals in the KNVB Beker. It is the second time PSV has faced SV Spakenburg in the cup tournament. In 2010 they won 3-0 at home against Second Divisionist. Never before PSV played in the cup at Sportpark De Westmaat.
Route to De Kuip
PSV's road to this semifinal began in the second round where they first faced Sparta Rotterdam (2-1). A little later, FC Emmen was their opponent and they took on ADO Den Haag at home. Both duels were won 3-1 by PSV.
Football Pyramid
PSV is in third place in the Eredivisie rankings. SV Spakenburg is currently tenth in the Jack's League, ranking 45 spots lower than PSV in the Dutch football pyramid.
Sharpshooters
Central defender Jarrad Branthwaite is PSV's top scorer in the cup tournament with two goals. In addition, Xavi Simons, Guus Til, Ibrahim Sangaré, Johan Bakayoko, Luuk de Jong and Noni Madueke, who left for Chelsea, scored a goal.
Multiple finalist
In total, PSV has been in the final of the KNVB Cup 18 times. The 10-time cup winner is currently the KNVB Beker title holder after the 2-1 victory over Ajax in the 2021-2022 final match. Érick Gutiérrez (48') and Cody Gakpo (50') shot PSV to victory in quick succession.
Decisive final stages
Since the introduction of professional football (1954), thirteen PSV duels in the KNVB Beker have been decided by penalty shootouts. This did not happen since the 2010-2011 quarterfinal against FC Twente. PSV lost on penalties after a 1-1 final score. Orlando Engelaar was the only one to miss from eleven meters. Luuk de Jong was on the field the entire match in the shirt of the home team.
