After NAC Breda was convincingly swept aside in the quarterfinals, PSV was paired with Go Ahead Eagles in the draw. On a visit to Deventer, despite dominant football, it remained exciting for a long time. A margin of one goal was eventually more than enough and so PSV is in the final of the TOTO KNVB Beker.
Calm start
Plenty of fireworks, singing and healthy tension. It is exactly what should precede a match for a final place in the TOTO KNVB Beker. A match in which PSV quickly combined for the first chance. The shot by Götze, who managed to get past another man on the edge of the penalty area, was unfortunately stopped by the goalkeeper. Yet it was not yet the case that Head Coach Roger Schmidt's team could attack constantly. At this stage it was an open match, as befits a semifinal in a cup tournament. But as the game progressed, PSV got a better grip on the match, played easier under the pressure and created more chances. However, that had not yet translated into goals.
Crazy finale
After 25 minutes of football, Noni Madueke decided to use one of his famous dribbles. His action created a lot of space for Joey Veerman, who got the ball and was able to strike immediately. Everyone at De Adelaarshorst held their breath, but goalkeeper Andries Noppert could just about reach it. Completely against proportion, the home team took the lead in the 37th minute. Everyone expected a reaction from PSV and it came: PSV upped the tempo considerably. One cross after another penetrated the Go Ahead Eagles penalty area, it was waiting for an equalizer. That equalizer came through Eran Zahavi, who got the ball perfectly tailored from Mauro Júnior. Less than a minute later, Zahavi broke through and was able to storm towards the home team's goal on his own. His action was illegally stopped by Joris Kramer, who initially received yellow. The VAR converted yellow into red and so the game was completely tilted in a matter of minutes.
Rain of chances
PSV went on the attack right after halftime and with success, or so it seems. Because a goal by Mauro was disallowed because Zahavi would have been annoyingly offside. So it remained the same, but PSV's attacking plans continued unabated. The home team was completely forced back into their own sixteen. A low cross from Madueke reached, between the lines, Götze who shot just wide from the turn. Moments later, the Go Ahead Eagles goalie had to fend off a shot by Ibrahim Sangaré, after PSV had frequently combined. At the other end of the pitch, the defense was in no danger at all. Yet it remained vigilant, as the home side had proven in the first half that they did not need many chances.
Exciting until the end
With Carlos Vinícius in the team, the chances had to be converted into goals. Still, the Brazilian did not need to be involved when Veerman forced one himself. Everyone expected a cross when he dribbled in from the side. He had other plans and with success: his shot made the crowd explode. Veerman, who played a creditable game anyway, hit the post moments later and from the rebound it was Madueke who shook the crossbar. Go Ahead Eagles seemed to settle their own fate with an own goal, but according to the referee there was too much pushing and pulling involved, and so it remained 1-2. The narrow margin kept things exciting at De Aderlaarshorst. With a closing offensive, the home team tried to force an equalizer. But where it had not created a chance the entire match, it did not succeed this time either. And so PSV will meet at De Kuip on April 17 for the final of the TOTO KNVB Beker against Ajax or AZ.
