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| |
| Twente
win Cup
Final after penalty shootout |
24 May 2001
|
| Today's
Cup Final is the golden opportunity for the
"Tukkers" to sneak into the UEFA Cup and
simultaneously thwart
PSV's attempt at the double. 32,000 Twente fans had travelled to the Kuip
for the match and there had been the predictable pre-match clashes in the
streets of Rotterdam. The match got off in beautiful sunshine with the
vocal enthusuiasm of the Twente fans marred only
(at least for the tv-viewing public) by the sound of what sounded like
something rattling it's cage (it was a sound to recur throughout the match
- boring!). Waterreus showed why he needed to play/was needed today
with a great 3rd minute save of a Scott Booth shot and there were a couple
of early chances for Van Nistelrooy (plus a couple of yellow cards for
PSV). Some of the Twente tackling was also verging on the illegal and it was clear
that this was going to be a tough match. On the half hour Waterreus saved
another Scott Booth advance, smothering the ball and, soon after, Kezman had a go with his right foot. The game flowed
backwards and forwards with plenty of attacking moves on both sides -
Twente did well to absorb so much of the Eindhoven attack while still creating its own chances. Hofland missed narrowly with a
header close to the end of the 1st 45 minutes ... halftime 0 - 0.
Twente had started the match in
confident mood and did the same in the 2nd half but PSV picked up their
pace once more and Van Nistelrooy missed narrowly as the champions
launched a series of menacing attacks. He then hit the dirt in the
box as Sander Boschker dived for the ball but there was no penalty given.
Twente came back with counters - Van der Laan had a clear shot but it went
wide. With half an hour to go the match was reaching a peak both on
(in terms of the on pitch struggle and niggling between the players) and
off (in terms of thethroats and deep lungs of the Tukker legions).
PSV exerted increasing pressure on the 'Tukkers' during the remainder of
the 90 minutes - Van Nistelrooy played a long and deep ball through to Rommedahl who
returned the favour with a cross which Ruud headed almost into the Twente
goal. Kolkka (substituting for Mateja Kezman who'd been wasted on the
wing) had a great close range shot turned
away by the lightning reflexes of Boschker. Both goalies were on real good
form today. As the match went into injury time Rommedahl went on a solo
mission on the edge of the area, letting fly with a blast which went over
and Kolkka went just wide seconds later.
Extra time - PSV threw everything
into the search for the Golden Goal and dominated extra time - of the many
chances Van Bommel's shot past the post was the best. It seemed to be
simply a question of time now before PSV would deliver the killer punch. Van
Nistelrooy went down again in the box and again he didn't
get a penalty - it just wasn't his day (Twente's Spira Grujic had done a
great job during the match of neutralizing him and Ruud himself seemed to
be in search of too much personal glory). 120 minutes of football wasn't
enough and so, for the first time since 1964, the Cup Final was going to be
decided by penalties. Vennegoor of Hesselink missed the 1st for Twente,
Heubach missed the 3rd (Twente were now 1 - 3 down and it looked
impossible for them to come back - but they did), Boschker stopped De Jong's shot and now it
was Waterreus who was going to take the last and possible winning
spot-shot ...Boschker stops it!!!! The shots go on and Boschker saves the
next one to give the Tukkers the cup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brriilliiaanntt!! Three
terrific saves from Sander Boschker give the 'Tukkers' a dramatic Cup victory. I usually hate penalty
shoot-outs but this was a great one.
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