Feyenoord have won the 2017/18 KNVB Cup after defeating AZ Alkmaar 3-0 in De Kuip.
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Giovanni van Bronckhorst brought Robin van Persie and Nicolai Jorgensen back into a strong Feyenoord line-up, while John van den Brom went conservative and lined up with five defenders.
The opening stages of the match were cagey but AZ had the better chances with Alireza Jahanbakhsh testing Brad Jones, while Ricardo van Rhijn hammered a free-kick into the wall.
On 29 minutes the opener did come, but in Feyenoord’s favour with Jorgensen tapping into the net after Marco Bizot had saved a Steven Berghuis header. Jahanbakhsh fired wide as AZ looked for an equaliser before the break, while at the other end Bizot saved well from Tonny Vilhena.
Feyenoord controlled the start of the second half and deservedly went 2-0 up through Van Persie, who delightfully chipped the ball over Bizot after playing a one-two with Berghuis.
AZ nearly pulled one back on 64 minutes, but Stijn Wuytens saw his header cleared off the line by Jorgensen. Mats Seuntjens then fired straight at Jones while Ron Vlaar headed over the bar as AZ failed to find a way back into the game. In the 94th minute, Jens Toornstra added the third to start the party in Rotterdam.
Feyenoord not only lift the cup but seal their place in next season’s Europa League qualifiers. For AZ its two lost finals in a row after their defeat to Vitesse last year and they will have to settle for third spot this season.
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