Tonight, Feyenoord faces FC Utrecht in the second round of the TOTO KNVB Beker. This match provides a perfect opportunity to reflect on a previous encounter between these two clubs: the 2016 KNVB Beker final. Feyenoord's victory in this match marked the end of a long trophy drought for the Rotterdam club.
The Road to the Final
Feyenoord's journey to the 2016 final was filled with challenges and triumphs. En route to the final stadium, De Kuip, the Rotterdam team eliminated arch-rivals Ajax, Willem II, Roda JC, and AZ. For Giovanni van Bronckhorst, in his first full season as head coach, this was an opportunity to win a major prize immediately. He was the seventh coach after Bert van Marwijk to win a major prize with Feyenoord. Despite a difficult period in the league, in which Feyenoord lost seven games in a row, Van Bronckhorst managed to prepare his team for the cup battle.
The Final: Feyenoord - FC Utrecht
On Sunday, April 24, 2016, the day had arrived: the cup final in their own Kuip against FC Utrecht. On paper, Feyenoord was the favorite, but FC Utrecht, under Erik ten Hag, was also having a good season in the Eredivisie.
A Closed First Half
Both teams started the match cautiously. FC Utrecht had a great chance to take a 0-1 lead after just four minutes, but Barazite's pass was too hard. In the twelfth minute, Michiel Kramer missed a great chance to put Feyenoord ahead after a faulty pass back from Van der Maarel. The teams kept it closed in the first half, but just before halftime, Feyenoord managed to open the scoring. A cross from captain Dirk Kuyt was headed in by Kramer: 1-0.
FC Utrecht Comes Back, Feyenoord Recovers
After the break, FC Utrecht came out of the dressing room sharper, and in the 51st minute, Leeuwin equalized: 1-1. Feyenoord had a tough time but managed to survive and gradually regained the upper hand in the match.
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The Final Offensive and the Relief
Captain Dirk Kuyt was injured in the 80th minute, but with a stopwatch in his hand, he kept track of the last seconds of the match. Elia had another great chance to make it 3-1, but his goal was enough for Feyenoord to win a major prize for the first time since 2008. Eljero Elia played six years ago in the World Cup final with Orange against Spain. Now he scores the winning goal for Feyenoord, after a brilliant idea and a long rush concluded with an effective shot. In injury time he almost makes it 3-1, after another clever sprint over the left flank, his shot goes centimeters wide.
Historical Context and Key Players
The 2016 cup final was not only a sporting achievement but also a moment of reunion with the past. Dirk Kuyt and Jean-Paul de Jong, who together won the KNVB Cup with FC Utrecht in 2003, now faced each other as player and assistant coach.
Kuyt and De Jong: From Teammates to Rivals
Thirteen years earlier, in 2003, Dirk Kuyt and Jean-Paul de Jong won the KNVB Cup with FC Utrecht after a resounding 4-1 victory over Feyenoord. In the 2016 final, they faced each other, Kuyt as captain of Feyenoord and De Jong as assistant to FC Utrecht coach Erik ten Hag.
Kuyt's Move to Feyenoord and the 2003 Final
Kuyt made the switch from FC Utrecht to Feyenoord in 2003. He wanted to end well at Utrecht and was determined to give it his all for FC Utrecht one more time and immediately leave a calling card for Feyenoord. In the 2003 final, Kuyt scored the 4-1, ending all uncertainty.
De Jong's Memories of the 2003 Cup Win
De Jong remembers the 2003 cup win well. He scored in the final against Ajax, but a goal scored from an offside position by Wamberto in the final seconds denied them the cup.
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The Role of Dirk Kuyt
Dirk Kuyt played a crucial role in the 2016 final. He provided the assist for Kramer's 1-0 and was an important leader on the field. For Kuyt, it was extra special to win the cup with Feyenoord because he had never won a prize in his first period at the club.
Match Statistics and Lineups
To give a complete picture of the match, below are the statistics and lineups of the Feyenoord - FC Utrecht cup final:
Match: Feyenoord - FC Utrecht 2-1Score: 42. Kramer 1-0, 51. Leeuwin 1-1, 75. Elia 2-1
Lineup Feyenoord: Vermeer, Karsdorp, Botteghin, Van Beek, Kongolo, El Ahmadi, Kuyt (89. Nelom), Vilhena, Toornstra, Kramer (80. Basacikoglu), Elia.
Lineup FC Utrecht: Bednarek, Van der Maarel, Leeuwin, Letschert, Kum (86. Ligeon), Strieder, Ramselaar, Ludwig (77. Boymans), Janssen (86. Joosten), Barazite, Haller.
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The Match in Detail
In 2016, the KNVB Beker final was between FC Utrecht and Feyenoord. These are two teams known as Cup fighters, but whoever looks at the statistics of previous years sees a completely different picture. For Feyenoord, it has been six years since they last stood in the final. Enough reason for an extremely exciting and thrilling confrontation, and it comes. In an atmospheric stadium, De Kuip, Feyenoord immediately takes the initiative, leading to the 1-0 by Michiel Kramer. Shortly before halftime, the striker heads the ball past FC Utrecht goalkeeper Filip Bednarek from a pass by Dirk Kuyt.
Dry Bang
Utrecht must therefore come after the break and does so. It gives the Utrechters the equalizer. Ramon Leeuwin gets the ball at his feet after a rejected free kick and shoots straight into the near corner with a dry bang.
Elia Decides Cup Final
Eljero Elia pulls the ball from the outside to the inside, sees a chance to shoot and does so in such a way that Filip Bednarek cannot answer. The ball rolls over the goal line via the FC Utrecht goalkeeper. 2-1 for Feyenoord, fifteen minutes left to do something about it. Eljero Elia pulls from the outside to the inside, sees a chance to shoot and does so in such a way that Filip Bednarek cannot answer. The ball rolls over the goal line via the FC Utrecht goalkeeper. 2-1 for Feyenoord, fifteen minutes left to do something about it.
Final Offensive Without Result
In that last quarter, substitutes Ruud Boymans, Patrick Joosten, and Ruben Ligeon come into the team for FC Utrecht, and in the last few minutes of the match, there are also some small opportunities. But Feyenoord keeps the ranks well closed and prevents Kenneth Vermeer from having too much to do. As a result, it is the Rotterdam team that can lift De Dennenappel into the air after more than ninety minutes of football.
Feyenoord - FC Utrecht 2-1 (1-0)
- Michiel Kramer 1-0
- Ramon Leeuwin 1-1
- Eljero Elia 2-1
Yellow cards: Terence Kongolo, Jens Toornstra (both Feyenoord) and Ramon Leeuwin (FC Utrecht).Spectators: 45,592.Referee: Björn Kuipers.
Lineup Feyenoord:Kenneth Vermeer; Sven van Beek, Eric Botteghin, Terence Kongolo, Rick Karsdorp; Karim El Ahmadi, Tonny Vilhena, Jens Toornstra, Dirk Kuyt (89. Miquel Nelom); Michiel Kramer (80. Bilal Basacikoglu), Eljero Elia.
Lineup FC Utrecht:Filip Bednarek; Mark van der Maarel, Ramon Leeuwin, Timo Letschert, Chris Kum (86. Ruben Ligeon); Rico Strieder, Bart Ramselaar, Andreas Ludwig (76. Ruud Boymans), Willem Janssen (86. Patrick Joosten); Nacer Barazite, Sébastien Haller.
Celebrations and Aftermath
A day later, tens of thousands of people gathered on the Coolsingel to celebrate the cup success. "No words but deeds," echoes over the packed square when coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst and captain Dirk Kuyt hold the cup in the air. After eight lean years, there is finally something to cheer about in Rotterdam, and the public wants to know.
The cup win means for Feyenoord the first major prize since 2008. The cup tournament was also won in that year. Moreover, the Rotterdam team is assured of participation in the group stage of the Europa League next season. The team will be honored on Monday at 11:30 am at the town hall on the Coolsingel. Players and trainers will then appear on the balcony.
Kramer: Winning the Cup is the Next Step
Finally, he was important for Feyenoord again. Michiel Kramer put Feyenoord on the right track in the semi-finals of the KNVB Cup. The often-reviled striker signed for 2-1 in the second half. Feyenoord eventually beat AZ 3-1 and can completely save the season by winning the cup final against FC Utrecht on April 24.
"We have done everything we can to win. This is the first step. Now we have to finish it too," said the goalscorer, who was also involved in Feyenoord's 1-0 in the first half.
His 2-1 was important. "We got some confidence again and started playing football a bit easier. The goal only really has value if we win the cup. I have been feeling pretty good for the last few weeks, but I haven't scored. Now I have. That's nice," Kramer looked back on his goal.
Feyenoord's Dominance and Key Moments
Feyenoord clearly dominated this final. FC Utrecht, who played so strongly against Ajax (2-2) and won 1-3 against PSV for the cup in Eindhoven, plays without guts and seems impressed by the swirling Kuip. The feared Utrecht attackers Haller and Barazite are chained by the outstanding defenders Botteghin and van Beek. The third defender Kongolo, who is returning from an injury, also plays well.
Shortly before halftime, Rick Karsdorp gets into a scoring position; instead of shooting on goal, he gives a clever pass to Kuyt, who crosses the ball high, and Kramer heads the ball into the far right corner: 1-0.
Seven minutes after halftime, Utrecht unexpectedly makes it 1-1 when a rejected free kick is shot hard by Leeuwin. Now it is the turn of the nearly 20,000 Utrecht supporters to cheer loudly. The loyal Feyenoord fans are shocked. But soon, a determined Feyenoord firmly takes control. The diligent Torenstra shoots a free kick hard at the goal, where goalkeeper Bednarek makes a clever save. Then comes the decisive moment from Elia. From his own half, the skillful left winger makes a quick rush over the left side and shoots unexpectedly into the near corner; the ball bounces into the goal via the inside of the post. The Kuip trembles on its foundations.