Groningen will host Fortuna Sittard in the quarterfinal of the KNVB Beker Cup on Thursday. The cup is wide open going into the final eight with Feyenoord taking on AZ Alkmaar this week. Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, the two winners from the previous season, are no longer in the running.
Preview (Groningen vs. Fortuna Sittard)
Groningen is one of the most successful teams in Holland right now. They are presently playing in the Eerste Divisie. While their Saturday loss to Dordrecht was a little low point, it was their first loss in 14 games. They have more goals in the second division than any other team has during the previous ten games. Dick Lukkien’s team is expected to secure a postseason spot as they attempt to return to the top division. They have won away from home in all three rounds thus far. It included victories over Excelsior and Willem II, the top team in the Eerste Divisie.
While there is a slim possibility Groningen can repeat their 2015 tournament victory, they currently have a great opportunity to advance to just their third semifinal in nearly forty years. Sittard hasn’t advanced past the quarterfinals in forty years, and their last victory in this competition was in 1964. As a result, they are unable to match Groningen’s recent accomplishments. They have won both of their previous meetings, though, since they did the double against their next opponents after Groningen was demoted from the Eredivisie the previous year. Additionally, Sittard comes into the match having won three of their previous four road games, including two cup matches.
Similar to Groningen, Sittard has advanced through three rounds, winning each one on the road. Kaj Sierhuis has been a key player in their last two cup matches, scoring three goals. On the pitch, Danny Buijs’s team is vying for a berth in the Europa Conference League playoffs. Relegation worries were long ago allayed.
Team News
Late in the January transfer window, Groningen permitted striker Kevin van Veen to rejoin Scottish football; as a result, they will resort to rookie Romano Postema for offensive inspiration. Their success in this competition has been greatly attributed to the attacker, who scored twice in their thrilling triumph at Excelsior and in the 3-1 victory at Willem II. A fully healthy roster at Lukkien’s disposal might mean that Rui Mendes stays off the field in anticipation of his first start since leaving Emmen. Deroy Duarte, Sittard’s lone absentee from the previous several weeks, is back in the lineup following Cape Verde’s elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Despite only having joined Groningen a month ago, Michael Verrips is expected to start in goal as Sittard has been called up and placed the stopper at the top following the transfer of Ivor Pandur to Hull City. After two goals against Heerenveen, Alen Halilovic is the man in form.
Groningen 1-2 Fortuna Sittard
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