Strand Larsen turns out to be a cup hero of FC Groningen as a substitute

Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 10:29 PM• Rian Rosendaal • Last update: 23:41

FC Groningen qualified for the eighth final in the TOTO KNVB Cup on Wednesday evening after extra time. On a visit to Excelsior, the number two in the Kitchen Champion Division, a 1-0 and a 2-1 deficit was cleared. The Pride of the North went on to win 2-4 in Kralingen. Cyril Ngonge signed for the highlight of the cup evening in Rotterdam with the magnificent 1-1 in the final phase of the first half.

Groningen faced the first deficit halfway through the first half. After very fine preparatory work by captain Redouan El Yaakoubi, Reuven Niemeijer scored an impeccable header for Excelsior: 1-0. It was already the fifteenth goal (nine goals and six assists) of the Rotterdam club Niemeijer was involved in, just as much as the entire previous season. In the closing minute of the first half, Ngonge handed over his calling card. The Belgian wing attacker was played by Mo El Hankouri, turned free in the penalty area in a very nice way and then signed for the 1-1 in a controlled manner.

Excelsior continued to fight for a cup stunt after the break and was close to a renewed lead in the 53rd minute. Kitchen Champion Division top scorer Thijs Dallinga, however, saw his effort go wide of the goal via a Groningen leg. With twenty minutes left on the clock, Excelsior’s 2-1 came after all. Julian Baas was played on the left side of the penalty area after a smooth attack and the midfielder then shot the ball extremely controlled into the short corner. Shortly afterwards, the home team thought it would be 3-1 via Mats Wieffer. The ball seemed to stay out of the goal via a handball from a Groningen player and there were immediate protests on the part of Excelsior. However, the VAR and arbitrator Pol van Boekel found no hands.

Excelsior’s surprising lead in regular time did not last. El Yaakoubi knocked Michael de Leeuw down in the penalty area in the 84th minute and Van Boekel was right to the spot. El Hankouri then made no mistake from eleven meters: 2-2. There was no winner within 90 minutes, so both teams went into extra time to be able to designate a winner. Goal scorer Ngonge did not see the extension, because trainer Danny Buijs decided to exchange him for Daniel van Kaam.

Groningen became increasingly stronger in extra time and in the last ten minutes the dominance was converted into goals. Jörgen Strand Larsen, one of the star performers on the visiting side, was alert in Excelsior’s penalty area, scoring from close range to make it 2-4 in the 112th minute. Just three minutes later, Strand Larsen doubled his tally of the evening’s goals after the ball lingered somewhat curiously near Excelsior’s goal. The resistance of the home club was broken and Groningen can prepare for the eighth final of the TOTO KNVB Cup in January.