On the second day of the first round of the KNVB Cup, amateur clubs HHC Hardenberg and Amsterdam AFC achieved a great success by eliminating a club from the first league.
Overijssel HHC were strong 2-0 at home against Heracles Almelo, number eight in the Eredivisie, thanks to headers from former professional footballers Matías Jones and Jesper Drost.
Later in the evening, AFC, in 10th place in the second league, eliminated PEC Zwolle. AFC lost 1-0 at its home sports park with a goal from former PEC youth player Wessel Been, the Premier League’s number nine. Be had only been on the field for a minute.
The last time HHC won the cup tournament against a professional club was in the 2015/16 season. In the round of 16, HHC beat NEC 2-0, meaning the Overijssel team advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time in the club’s history. The streak ended with a narrow 0-1 defeat to AZ.
Uruguayan midfielder
Jones, 32, who scored the first goal against Herakles, has had a remarkable football career. The Uruguayan midfielder played football for FC Groningen and FC Emmen between 2011 and 2013. He later returned to South America and played briefly for SC Cambuur in 2019. After two seasons with professional clubs in Uruguay, he was finally transferred to HHC, which finished seventh in the second division last year.
On Wednesday evening, Jones opened the game against Herakles with a stunning header from a corner. Former Herakles player Drost made it 2-0 with a free kick after the match lasted just over an hour.
Speaking later by phone from Langs de Lijn En Omstreek, Drost said the victory was “good and deserved”. “We’re not doing very well in the competition right now. “I think it’s also because we don’t have much to lose in a match like this.”
In Amsterdam, AFC thought they would take the lead earlier against PEC, but the goal was disallowed due to offside. AFC continued their brave attack and had another great chance in the 80th minute. The free kick flew into the top corner, but PEC goalkeeper Mike Hauptmeijer kept a close eye and made the save.
Former young player kills PEC
It was Be who scored the winning goal from the corner six minutes later. The forward swapped the AFC youth academy for PEC’s three years ago. He returned to the AFC last season after a brief stint at the academy of Italian Serie A side Lecce.
This goal was very special for Been, who played his first minutes in the AFC main squad against Herakles. He led his team to victory with his first touch of the ball less than a minute after entering the field.
“I prepared by shaking hands,” he said about his new role in Langs de Lijn En Omstreek. “I got a clue who I should protect. The room opened, I looked for the hole, and he fell in. “I’m very happy to be able to help the team in this way.”
Fortuna Sittard had some difficulties against Sparta Nijkerk, who were in tenth place in the third division. The penalty converted by Alen Halilovic ultimately determined the 0-1 victory.
FC Groningen also had a difficult time with amateur club Rijnsburgse Boys. Thanks to Marvin Peersman’s goal, FC Groningen qualified for the next round against the second division team: 0-1.
Excelsior beat FC Den Bosch 2-1 after extra time. Siebe Horemans scored the first goal for the Rotterdam team in the first half. Jaron Vicario added extra time in the seventh minute of the second half. Excelsior midfielder Julian Baas took advantage of the penalty: 2-1.
Source: NOS
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
