Having lost the KNVB Cup final in 2014, 2017 and 2018, PSV Women must’ve thought their cursed existence in the competition was rearing its ugly head again in the 2021 final on Saturday.
In the 17th minute, PSV set about defending a Den Haag corner. The ball eventually fell to Den Haag’s Jannette van Belen, whose attempted shot was blocked and ricocheted back off the top of her shoulder.
With the ball now floating in the air, PSV’s Janou Levels signaled for handball on Van Belen (it wasn’t). But in a dramatic turn of events, the ball came back down and struck Levels on her outstretched arm.
The referee duly pointed to the spot.
✋ Appelleren voor een handsbal
De bal zelf op je hand krijgen❌ Strafschop tegen
Een ongelukkig moment voor PSV-speelster Janou Levels. Gelukkig voor haar werd de penalty gemist. pic.twitter.com/mr1yCFheJw
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) June 5, 2021
Luckily for Levels, Netherlands international goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal saved the penalty, and Joëlle Smits scored PSV's game-winner in the 37th minute.
It’s PSV’s first KNVB Cup triumph on the women’s side. One more note from this game: here’s Den Haag’s Van Belen sucking down some pickle juice after getting substituted.
Tja, iedereen heeft zo een eigen hersteldrankje... pic.twitter.com/Y356ABhn5g
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) June 5, 2021
