Rotterdam – Iranian winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh was in action today as visitors AZ Alkmaar took on home side Feyenoord in the semifinals of the KNVB Cup (Dutch Cup).
A full house was on hand in Rotterdam for a KNVB Cup semifinal matchup between Feyenoord and AZ Alkmaar. The game got off to a fast start as the first yellow card was issued in the first minute of play to AZ defender Derrick Luckassen.
Fifteen minutes into the match, the home side Feyenoord took a 1-0 lead courtesy of an own goal by captain Markus Henriksen.
Just after the half-hour mark, Karim El-Ahmadi nearly doubled the lead for Feyenoord but he was denied nicely by AZ keeper Sergio Rochet.
Twenty seconds after the restart, Henriksen made amends from his mistake earlier and knocked in a rebound off an attempt by Ridgeciano Haps to tie the game 1-1.
AZ kept up the pressure and had three corner kick attempts in the first five minutes of the second half.
In the 75th minute, AZ nearly took the lead when Iranian winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh’s cross in the penalty area deflected off the post.
Three minutes later, Feyenoord regained the lead when forward Michiel Kramer was left unmarked in the penalty area. Kramer’s shot deflected off keeper Rochet and into the net to give Feyenoord an important 2-1 lead.
In the 85th minute, captain Dirk Kuyt made the game safe by converting a penalty kick to put Feyenoord up 3-1.
Head Coach and former Dutch international Giovanni van Bronckhorst was delighted on the sidelines as Feyenoord will take on FC Utrecht in the KNVB Cup Final in Rotterdam.