KNVB Cup holders PEC Zwolle are into the competitions final for the second year in a row after a penalty shoot-out win over FC Twente.
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FC Twente went into the match on the back of the 5-0 hammering by PSV at the weekend, but welcomed back several key players including Hakim Ziyech and Luc Castaignos. The match in Enschede was seen as the last chance for Twente to earn a place in Europe next season, and gain much needed money.
However it was the visitors that had the better of a low key first half, with three chances falling to midfielder Mustafa Saymak, who could not beat Sonny Stevens or substitute goalkeeper Nick Marsman.
Twente’s first real chance came in the 51st minute, but Renato Tapia’s tame effort was straight at PEC Zwolle keeper Warner Hahn. The effort kick-started the home side as they dominated possession, but failed to create any clear cut chances.
With nine minutes to go PEC Zwolle took the lead with ex-Twente star Wout Brama sending an excellent volley past Marsman from just outside the box. However ex-PEC Zwolle winger Youness Mokhtar sent the game into extra time with a finish from close range after Luc Castaignos knocked the ball down.
Thirty minutes of extra time couldn’t find a winner, and after the match entered a penalty shoot-out, Thomas Lam was the first to miss for PEC Zwolle, but both Robert Schilder and Kyle Ebecilio missed for Twente, allowing Thomas Necid to seal the holders place in the final with an excellent Panenka penalty.
PEC Zwolle will face either Excelsior or Groningen in the final, while FC Twente take another hit in what has been a dreadful season for the Enschede side.
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