PEC Zwolle stun Ajax to grab maiden Dutch Cup

Rotterdam, April 21 (IANS) A sensational Dutch Cup final ended in a 5-1 win for PEC Zwolle against Ajax.

Sunday’s match started with Ajax fans throwing fireworks in the penalty area of their own goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer. After the mess was cleaned up, Ricardo van Rhijn blasted home the opening goal for Ajax with a long distance canon ball. The Ajax fans, behind the goal, celebrated with more fireworks after which the match was temporarily suspended, reports Xinhua.

After the break, only one team was able to present more spectacle and it was not Ajax which will capture their fourth consecutive league title under coach Frank de Boer. It was PEC Zwolle which dominated and equalised through Ryan Thomas. The shot by the New Zealand winger was deflected by Ajax defender Niklas Moisander.

Thomas also produced the second goal. He was alert after a free-kick by Maikel van der Werff hit the post and scored from the rebound. After a pass by Kamohelo Mokotjo, it was Guyon Fernandez who made it three for Zwolle and the striker also headed in the fourth goal in the 33rd minute.

Ajax was totally stunned and their only danger was a shot by forward Bojan on the cross bar. The Amsterdam-based Dutch giants were not able to recover from the major blows.

In the second half, Zwolle captain Bram van Polen scored the fifth, finishing a rebound from a corner.

After losing the Dutch Cup finals in 1928 and 1977, PEC Zwolle captured their first KNVB Beker.