February 27, 2024, 11:30 PM
A Semi-Final of the TOTO KNVB Cup at Cambuurplein. Only a die-hard football romantic might have imagined that the Cambuur Stadium would host the biggest match ever in the last year of its existence. The cheers from many Leeuwarden living rooms sounded loud when a home match was decided in the draw, but with NEC Nijmegen as opponent, everyone with a yellow-blue heart immediately knew that it would be a particularly difficult job.
The Nijmegen are perhaps having their best season in years and with seventh place in the rankings, even a European ticket through the competition is not excluded. Observations that did not fall on deaf ears among Cambuur supporters, because the anticipation was already great on the various social media, and the atmospheric campaign at the turnout – and actually during the warm-up – was even greater and more impressive if possible.
In front of the North Stand, an equally beautiful and large banner rose across the entire width of the stand and the fireworks at the entrance were reminiscent of a New Year’s Eve celebration in any Chinese city. Those who had not yet understood the message on the field now did: it is regarding the final.
At SC Cambuur there was one change in the starting eleven: Jeremy van Mullem kicked off at the expense of Daniël van Kaam and De Jong also had a tactical variant in store. Milan Smit was not stationed on the left, but operated from the ‘ten’ position. A tactical move that was reminiscent of the 2014 match between SC Cambuur and Vitesse in 2014. Then Martijn Barto was the Milan Smit of the evening, although unfortunately that dream scenario would not arrive tonight.
However, SC Cambuur would take the lead following twice getting away well (first Van Osch with a world save and later the bar gave a helping hand) and that was in a beautiful way. Jeremy van Mullem brought the ball into the box with great feeling and Fedde de Jong had already seen his companion Roberts Uldrikis standing free. The Latvian striker had the ball to head in and he did just that. Why not? The Cambuur Stadium became even crazier than it already was and ‘t Woanskip sounded more beautiful than ever before.
A football fairytale seemed to be in the making, because with continuous fireworks from outside the stadium, SC Cambuur actually got more control over the match and NEC was no longer able to cope offensively. Although it had most of the ball possession, it would not be as dangerous as in the first twenty minutes. If the Nijmegen team did, Van Osch would be playing like a king and, together with the ten yellow shirts in front of him, he would take the 1-0 lead into the tea break.
Without a substitution, the game pattern following the break was no different than before: NEC had the most ball possession, simply played easy football (not surprising given the rankings) and it became dangerous by the minute.
It was particularly sad that the equalizer would come from a corner kick and it was even more sad that it came regarding by chance. The ball got stuck in the five meters and following a scrimmage the ball fell at the feet of Ogawa and he had the ball to tap in: 1-1.
With half an hour left on the clock, everything was still possible and the Leeuwarders continued to believe in the cup dream. After all, the ball only had to fall correctly once to reach De Kuip and that scenario seemed to happen in the 86th minute.
After Michael Breij’s shot was blocked, the ball was brought back in and landed on Milan Smit’s head. The top scorer headed into the long corner and the ball sailed exactly towards the corner of the goal. The ten thousand present in the Cambuur Stadium held their breath, but it was Jasper Cillessen who would emerge as the winner. He just knocked the ball out of the goal and thus prevented another public celebration.
What would follow was extra time and despite a number of substitutions, SC Cambuur’s strength seemed to be dwindling somewhat. You would say not yet a man overboard, but that was the case when substitute Borges Sanches sent two yellow-blue players into the woods with an unprecedented action and his withdrawn cross ended up with the other Japanese: Sano. Although it didn’t hit him terribly, it was good enough. The ball sailed into the side netting and Van Osch had no chance.
De Jong and his team then exchanged attacks with Van Kaam for Bergsma and later even Wormgoor for Ottesen, but to no avail. It was always just not and the fortune needed in such a final phase was unfortunately lacking. The final whistle sounded following 120 exciting minutes and everyone from SC Cambuur can be more than proud of the way they presented themselves to the football-loving Netherlands. Although the final was not reached, the most beautiful club really comes from Leeuwarden.
Line-up SC Cambuur: Van Osch; Ottesen (110′ Wormgoor), Tol, Bergsma (106′ Van Kaam), Poll; Van Mullem, De Jong (102′ Kooistra), Breij (C) (103′ Sylla); Balk (67′ Van der Meer), Uldrikis (97′ Pichel) and Smit
NEC Nijmegen line-up: Cillessen; Van Rooij, Sandler, Nuytinck (102′ Sow), Verdonk; Hoedemakers (91′ Schöne), Sano, Chery; Hansen (71′ Baas), Ogawa and Gonzalez (91′ Borges Sanches)
Referee: Sander van der Eijk
WAS: Allard Lindhout
Supporters present: 10,000 (sold out)
Score progression:
24’ 1-0, Uldrikis
60’ 1-1, Ogawa
99’ 1-2 Sano
Yellow cards: Breij, Van Mullem, Pichel and Sylla
Competition sponsor: Thebagstore.nl
Ball sponge track: Sportbh.nl
Captain’s ban sponsor: Regenjas.nl
Photo: www.dijksmedia.nl
