PSV Eindhoven Defeats Ajax Via Penalties To Retain The Dutch Cup Trophy.

PSV Eindhoven defeated rivals Ajax on penalties in the Dutch Cup (KNVB) final on Sunday at De Kuip Feyenoord stadium in Rotterdam.

Wolves loanee Fabio Silva struck the winning penalty as PSV successfully defended their Dutch Cup (KNVB) title with a 3-2 shootout victory against Ajax following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes of football.

Jarrad Branthwaite who is on loan from Everton had scored an own goal. The English teenage defender deflected a cross from Steven Bergwijn into his own net to give Ajax a first half lead (43 mins).

But Belgian midfielder Thorgan Hazard equalised for PSV midway through the second half (67 mins), after an excellent play by Netherlands rising star Xavi Simons to set him up.

The game which eventually went to extra-time and penalty shootout was of poor quality, with both teams missing two of their first three penalties.

Brian Brobbey, Jurrien Timber and Edson Alvarez all missed their penalties, while Dusan Tadic and Mika Godts converted theirs for Ajax.

Andre Ramalho, Ibrahim Sangare missed for PSV, but Thorgan Hazard, Anwar El Ghazi, and Fabio Silva scores their penalties to hand PSV a back-to-back victory in the competition having beaten the Amsterdam side in last year's decider as well.

It's an 11th Dutch Cup victory for PSV, and are now nine behind Ajax's record tally of 20 titles. PSV have now won a total of 50 trophies (24 times Dutch league campions, 11 Dutch Cups,  13 Dutch Super Cups, 1 Europa Cup, and 1 UEFA Cup).

It was a huge moment also for PSV manager Ruud van Nistelrooy who secured the 2nd trophy for the club in his first season as their manager. He had previously won the Johan Cruyff Shield beating this same Ajax in the final 5-3 last July.

The Johan Cruyff Shield is a match played between the winners of the previous season's Eredivisie and KNVB Cup.

👏🏆 Huge moment also for PSV manager Ruud van Nistelrooy who secured the 2nd trophy of his managerial career. pic.twitter.com/8FeXdN4k0b

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) April 30, 2023

Ajax are set to end a completed season without a major trophy for the first time since 2017-18.

Johnny Heitinga's side sits third in the Eredivisie table with 62 points and four matches left to play. They are three points behind PSV who are second, and 11 adrift of leaders Feyenoord.