FC Groningen reached the next round of the TOTO KNVB Cup quite effortlessly on Wednesday evening thanks to a 0-3 victory over FC Dordrecht. Defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo became the man of the evening with two goals. The victory is a big boost for trainer Frank Wormuth, who has been under fire in the High North in recent weeks.
The selection of Groningen was quite battered on Wednesday evening in the Matchoholic Stadium. Michael Verrips, Isak Määttä, Nordin Musampa, Liam van Gelderen and Tomas Suslov are injured, while Laros Duarte was suspended. Club top scorer Ricardo Pepi (four goals) was at the kick-off, while Cyril Ngonge was finally back in the starting lineup. At Dordrecht, which won the last two Kitchen Champion Division matches, Aliou Baldé is the man in shape. The Feyenoord mercenary has already been accurate four times in a competition.
Groningen again played a very static first half in Dordrecht. Wormuth’s team had a lot of ball possession, but barely managed to find an opening. It was only in the 42nd minute that Kasanwirjo succeeded. After a good chopping movement, the right back took a clear cut with his left, making his shot too powerful for keeper Trevor Doornbusch: 0-1. For the youth international of the Dutch it was his second goal in Groningen service.
At halftime, Groningen goalkeeper Peter Leeuwenburgh was forced to be substituted, allowing Jan de Boer to make his debut in professional football. After Verrips’ previous injury, Wormuth saw his goalkeeping problems increase again. Only the post prevented De Boer from immediately having to take a hit when Baldé touched the woodwork with a shot from the turn in the 49th minute. After that, by missing several big chances, Pepi failed to double the score.
Yet Groningen was able to cheer again just before time. Kasanwirjo filled in Ngonge, who then delivered the ball perfectly to the head of the right back. The handsome header by Kasanwirjo was then untenable for Doornbusch, so that an exciting final was definitively ruled out by the Groningers. In the final phase, the capricious-looking Ngonge hit the post with a hard shot, after which Pepi was still allowed to sign for the final score a few minutes later with a tapper: 0-3.