KNVB Beker: 330 minutes in the Dutch Cup first round

Words: Han Balk

Images: Han Balk

The first round of the KNVB Cup is somewhat comparable to the third round of the FA Cup.

Eredivisie teams, midweek, nervously facing non-league teams at packed sports grounds somewhere in the provinces.

Not all Eredivisie teams participated in this round, though. All clubs currently playing, or who have played, in European competitions received a wildcard for this round.

This included Go Ahead Eagles, who were eliminated in the Conference League qualifiers by SK Brann Bergen (NOR) this summer.

©Han Balk/ Terrace Edition. IJsselmeervogels vs. SC Heerenveen.

Due to the TV broadcast of the Dutch women’ s national team match and the rescheduled Feyenoord vs. Ajax game on Wednesday, the KNVB decided that almost all other matches should kick off at nine p.m for the cup.

For many non-league clubs, this late start, with the possibility of extra time, was a sore point. Once again, TV took priority over the real supporters standing along the sidelines.

On Tuesday night, we headed to the red side of Sportpark De Westmaat: IJsselmeervogels vs. SC Heerenveen.

Although IJsselmeervogels now plays at the fourth level, the struggling team of coach Robin van Persie likely didn’t arrive in Spakenburg brimming with confidence.

An upset briefly seemed in sight, as the ‘Vogels’ turned a 0-1 deficit into a 2-1 lead. Ultimately, the pros from Friesland claimed a 2-3 victory in regular time.

©Han Balk/ Terrace Edition. Sportclub Genemuiden vs Willem II Tilburg.

Wednesday night didn’t seem to hold any surprises in store. Third-division side Sportclub Genemuiden had been losing in the league for weeks, and their opponent Willem II Tilburg stands 10th in the Eredivisie (1st level).

Yet, the magic of cup football remains alive. Genemuiden, not undeservedly, went up 2-0, only to concede the equalizer with just 10 seconds of regular time left.

Willem II then scored the 2-3 winner in extra time, crushing Genemuiden’s dream.

On the third and final evening, Sportpark De Westmaat in Spakenburg once again set the scene for a true cup clash. No pros this time, but a battle between two top non-league clubs, both from the Tweede Divisie (3rd level): SV Spakenburg vs. VV Katwijk.

©Han Balk/ Terrace Edition. SV Spakenburg vs. VV Katwijk.

Apparently, there was no football on TV tonight, as this match was set for an eight p.m. start. After some delays, the game kicked off just before half-past eight.

The ‘Blues’ from Spakenburg had reached the semi-finals against PSV Eindhoven in 2023 and are still a feared opponent in the cup tournament.

Spakenburg took an early 1-0 lead, but Katwijk turned it around to 1-2 late in the match. Once again, a very late goal forced extra time: 2-2. Katwijk ultimately advanced to the second round in December.

The draw has already been made: Go Ahead Eagles must play away against Sparta Rotterdam. But will you watch that on TV, or be there in the stadium…