Vitesse and AZ are two of the four semi-finalists of the Cup. The Arnhem placed themselves Thursday night for the semi-finals by eliminating cupholder Feyenoord, while AZ 24 hours earlier SC Heerenveen turned off.
Vitesse: Nathan made the difference
Vitesse won in club history never a KNVB Cup, but is by now one step closer to the quarter finals in the history of the club. Last Thursday the Arnhem took it home against Feyenoord cupholder. The Rotterdam will win this season of course the scale, but started against Vitesse have a strong team. In the Gelredome the first half is not much, but that changed decisively when the Brazilian Nathan in the second half made his appearance. The 20-year-old striker made continuously for threat and when the Brazilian ten minutes the game had entered the Arnhem ahead – Vitesse captain Guram Kashia ensured Feyenoord this season for the first time conceded a goal from a corner. The Arnhem club came in the Gelredome football so after 55 minutes the lead, adnane tighadouini decided not long after the game in favor of Vitesse. After the 2-0 Feyenoord still trying to find the tying goal, but the free kick by Vitesse midfielder Lewis Baker was the only real chance in the last half hour of the match.
The victory of the Vitesse Arnhem are now in the semifinals of the tournament, in which Sparta Castle the opponent is. Where Vitesse last weekend, had still disappointing visiting FC Groningen (1-1 draw) because it ran against Feyenoord just right. Kashia scorer was against FC Groningen early to the side taken by Henk Fraser, but was against Feyenoord of enormous importance. The captain was after the won game especially pleased with the mentality of the team. “This was the game of the year. I am so happy with the way we played, especially the mentality that we showed. “So Kashia said afterwards about the team. Fraser, who was champion with Feyenoord in 1999, after the match against FC Groningen fierce, but Thursday night was satisfied with the game: “This is brilliant. This gives us great confidence. “The Vitesse coach Nathan brought in the second half the game Julian Calor and took in his well. “With the arrival of Nathan we played with three strikers and we got a better grip on the match, as Feyenoord had to adapt to.” Said Fraser Thursday evening midfielder Sheran Yeini did return to his former club Maccabi Tel Aviv
Probable lineup Vitesse
Cream; Leerdam, Kashia, van der Werff, Kruiswijk; Nakamba, Calor, Baker; Rashica, van Wolfswinkel, Tighadouini.
AZ Alkmaar: Through the eye of the needle
As Vitesse came AZ this week in action. The Alkmaar took Wednesday night in their own AFAS Stadium against Heerenveen. The Frisian team played three days earlier another good race visiting PSV (4-3 loss) and pulled it through against AZ. In the second half Heerenveen-back Stefano Marzo got a big chance face to face with AZ keeper Sergio Rochet, but failed the Belgian. Not much later AZ – against the ratio – the lead through a header from Derrick Luckassen. The defender-cum-midfielder scored last Saturday’s opening goal against Sparta Rotterdam (1-1) Wednesday night and was so again important.
AZ qualified for the third time in the last four years for the semifinals of the Cup. The Alkmaar overcame Heerenveen so, but the Frisians had the footballing better for each other than the home team, but there scorer Luck Assen does not care. “We have to have a damn about that. It can footballing us better, but as long as we win it’s good. “Luck Assen said afterwards. John van den Brom took his team itself has just rewards after the disappointing result against Sparta: ‘Occasionally we had luck on our side. But ended up staying up well and we could strike. Worse than Sparta could not. ”
John van den Brom is a victory today still welcome in Arnhem. The Alkmaar ran last weekend a point at Heerenveen and now on a tie for fourth place with the Frisians. It is now still not clear whether Van den Brom next season still head coach of the Alkmaar, but it seems that the club as yet just wait to take a decision. Van den Brom is the upcoming games in any case collect some credit, because with games against Vitesse, PSV Olympique Lyon Heerenveen and AZ affects four opponents in size.
Probable lineup AZ Alkmaar
Rochet; Johansson, Luck Assen, Wuytens, Haps; Mühren, Seun Parties, Rienstra; Jahanbakhsh, Weghorst, Tankovic.
Direct meetings between Vitesse and AZ Alkmaar
15.10.16 ERE AZ Alkmaar Vitesse 2 : 2
06.02.16 ERE AZ Alkmaar Vitesse 1 : 0
08.11.15 ERE Vitesse AZ Alkmaar 0 : 2
13.03.15 ERE Vitesse AZ Alkmaar 3 : 1
22.11.14 ERE AZ Alkmaar Vitesse 1 : 0
Prediction: Over 2,5 goals
Odds: 2.00
