KNVB Beker Semi Final: Blunder gives Zwolle cup final |

Wednesday 26th March

PEC ZWOLLE 2-1 NEC NIJMEGEN

PEC Zwolle are through to their first KNVB Beker final for 37 years after a lucky goal gave them a 2-1 win over NEC Nijmegen.

The hosts took the lead just before the half-hour mark from Jesper Drost. After the NEC failed to clear their lines, Drost collected the ball just outside the area and scuffed a low drive towards goal. The ball took a slight deflection and although the shot did not hold much power it was too much for Dennis Gentenaar to stop.

Six minutes before the break, the visitors were level. Club captain Ryan Koolwijk lofted a free-kick into the area from deep on the right wing. English striker Michael Higdon, as always, won the header which was smashed home with an acrobatic volley from Kevin Conboy. The midfielder dived into the ground ala Jurgen Klinsmann to celebrate.

After an even second half, Zwolle regained the lead with nine minutes courtesy of a terrible goalkeeping error from Gentenaar. In the wet conditions, Maikel van der Werff launched a long range effort towards goal that was hit straight at the keeper. Unfortunately, the shot bounced in front of the stopper and the ball squirmed under Gentenaar’s elbow and trickled over the line.

Zwolle now await the winner of AZ vs. Ajax tomorrow night to see who stands between them and their first ever KNVB Beker and their first major trophy in Dutch football.

TEAMS

ZWOLLE: Boer, Van Polen, Van der Werff, Broerse, Van Hintum, Mokotjo, Klich (Lachman 87), Karagounis, Drost, Thomas (Narsingh 73), Fernandez.

SUBS NOT USED: Begois, Saymak, Benson, Mahmudov, Gravenbeek.

GOALS: Drost 29, Van der Werff 81.

BOOKINGS: Boer 92.

NEC: Gentenaar, Vermijl, Van Eijden, Nielsen, Leiwakabessy, Conboy, Koolwijk, Gravenberch (Foor 31 (Štefánik 70)), Hemlein (Castillion 84), Higdon, Jahanbakhsh.

SUBS NOT USED: Johnsson, Disveld, Mulder, Jantscher.

GOALS: Conboy 39.

BOOKINGS: Nielsen 64, Conboy 88.