The quarter final was as far as FC Utrecht got in the KNVB Cup this season. The Eredivisie team couldn’t get past Jupiler League side SC Cambuur this evening (Wednesday). After 120 minutes’ football and penalties, the Frisians proved too strong for the team from the Dom City.

It was a thrilling cat and mouse game and a result to look up to. For most of the spectators in the Galgenwaard, however, the wrong team won. Utrecht were unable to win the penalty series and the surprise team in the Cup this season, Cambuur, knocked Utrecht out after having beaten Ajax in the previous round. The game was decided by 18 penalties: 6-7 for the team in blue and yellow.

Leeuwin 1-0, Bakker 1-1
Utrecht and penalties, not a happy combination this evening. Trainer/coach Erik ten Hag’s team conceded one during regular play. Ramon Leeuwin had opened the score but shortly after the break Cambuur’s Erik Bakker placed the ball on the spot and rifled it into the net (1-1).

It’s a penalty, no it’s not
A little later, with the score at 2-1 for Cambuur thanks to a Martijn Barto goal, it was Utrecht’s turn to be awarded a penalty. Sébastien Haller was standing behind the ball ready to take it when referee Pol van Boekel approached him and said he wanted to see the video replay and then reversed his penalty decision. Not long to play and the score was still in Cambuur’s favour.

Troupée the equaliser: extra time
A minute before the end of regular play and the Galgenwaard got to see a goal after all. A measured header by Giovanni Troupée made it 2-2 and the game went into extra time. Many chances followed but no fifth goal. So the ball had to go on the spot. 18 times. Thirteen shots went in, six for Utrecht and seven for giant killers Cambuur and they go into the draw tomorrow for the semi-final of the KNVB Cup. Utrecht can now concentrate on the Eredivisie.

Saturday: Go Ahead Eagles away
Talking about the Eredivisie, on Saturday Utrecht will be playing in Deventer against their next opponents, Go Ahead Eagles.

FC Utrecht - SC Cambuur 2-2 (SC Cambuur win after penalties: 6-7)
29. Ramon Leeuwin 1-0
47. Erik Bakker (penalty) 1-1
67. Martijn Barto 1-2
89. Giovanni Troupée 2-2

Penalty series:
Nacer Barazite 1-0, Erik Bakker 1-1, Zakaria Labyad 2-1, Robbert Schilder 2-2, Ramon Leeuwin 2-2, Xander Houtkoop 2-2, Willem Janssen 2-2, Jergé Hoefdraad 2-3, Sébastien Haller 3-3, Farshad Noor 3-3, Jeff Hardeveld 4-3, Marvin Peersman 4-4, Sofyan Amrabat 5-4, Martijn Barto 5-5, Giovanni Troupée 6-5, Stefano Lilipaly 6-6, Kristoffer Peterson 6-6, Jamiro Monteiro 6-7.

Yellow cards: Jordy van Deelen and Omar El Baad (both SC Cambuur).

Attendance: 13,997.

Referee: Pol van Boekel.

FC Utrecht line-up:
David Jensen; Giovanni Troupée, Ramon Leeuwin, Willem Janssen, Robin van der Meer (82. Jeff Hardeveld); Wout Brama (116. Zakaria Labyad), Sofyan Amrabat, Yassin Ayoub, Nacer Barazite; Richairo Zivkovic (82. Kristoffer Peterson), Sébastien Haller.

SC Cambuur line-up:
Leonard Nienhuis; Jordy van Deelen (90. Farshad Noor), Omar El Baad, Robbert Schilder, Marvin Peersman; Erik Bakker, Xander Houtkoop, Jamiro Monteiro, Tarik Tissoudali (67. Stefano Lilipaly); Jergé Hoefdraad, Martijn Barto