| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Netherlands |
| Teams | 60 |
| Defending champions | Roda JC Kerkrade |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Ajax |
| Runners-up | PSV |
| Third place | Heerenveen |
| Fourth place | Twente |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Top goal scorer(s) | Anthony Lurling (7 goals) |
The1997-98 KNVB Cup (at the time calledAmstel Cup) was the 80th edition of theDutch nationalfootball annual knockout tournament for theKNVB Cup. 60 teams contested, beginning on 12 August 1997. The final was played on 17 May 1998.
Ajax beatPSV 5–0 and won the cup for the thirteenth time.
The matches of the group stage were played between 12 August and 7 September 1997. 54 clubs participated, 26 advanced to the next round.
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1.sc HeerenveenE | 9 |
| 2.Cambuur Leeuw.1 | 6 |
| 3. Drachtster BoysA | 1 |
| 4. VVOGA | 1 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1.SC Heracles1 | 7 |
| 2.De GraafschapE | 6 |
| 3. RKSV BabberichA | 4 |
| 4. HSC '21A | 0 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1.NAC BredaE | 9 |
| 2.TOP Oss1 | 6 |
| 3. SV CapelleA | 3 |
| 4. SC FeyenoordA | 0 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1.FC GroningenE | 7 |
| 2.Veendam1 | 7 |
| 3. Quick '20A | 1 |
| 4. SC GenemuidenA | 1 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1.Fortuna SittardE | 9 |
| 2.Young PSV | 6 |
| 3. BVV/CaterpillarA | 3 |
| 4.VVV-Venlo1 | 0 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1.ADO Den Haag1 | 9 |
| 2.SpartaE | 6 |
| 3.Excelsior1 | 3 |
| 4. SVV ScheveningenA | 0 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1.VV KatwijkA | 9 |
| 2.Dordrecht'901 | 7 |
| 3.FC UtrechtE | 6 |
| 4. VV NoordwijkA | 6 |
| 5. Young HFC Haarlem | 1 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1.Telstar1 | 6 |
| 2.FC VolendamE | 6 |
| 3.Go Ahead Eagles1 | 3 |
| 4. FC LisseA | 3 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1.Willem IIE | 6 |
| 2.FC Eindhoven1 | 6 |
| 3. SHOA | 4 |
| 4.RBC Roosendaal1 | 1 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1.RKC WaalwijkE | 9 |
| 2.FC Den Bosch1 | 6 |
| 3. WSCA | 3 |
| 4. Young FC Utrecht | 0 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1.FC Emmen1 | 9 |
| 2.NECE | 6 |
| 3. De TreffersA | 3 |
| 4. GVVVA | 0 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1.Helmond Sport1 | 7 |
| 2.MVVE | 7 |
| 3. EHCA | 3 |
| 4. VV BaronieA | 0 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1.AZ1 | 9 |
| 2.AFC '34A | 5 |
| 3.FC Zwolle1 | 5 |
| 4.HFC Haarlem1 | 4 |
| 5. HVV HollandiaA | 4 |
E Eredivisie;1 Eerste Divisie;A Amateur teams
The matches of the first round were played on November 18 and 19, 1997. The six highest Eredivisie teams fromlast season entered the tournament this round.
| Home team | Result | Away team |
|---|---|---|
| AjaxE | 6–0 | MVV |
| PSVE | 4–0 | FC Emmen |
| FC Den Bosch | 2–1 (aet) | AZ |
| NEC | 2–1 | ADO Den Haag |
| Dordrecht'90 | 1–4 | FC Groningen |
| Sparta | 1–2 (aet) | FC TwenteE |
| AFC '34 | 1–2 | Fortuna Sittard |
| RKC Waalwijk | 0–1 | Vitesse ArnhemE |
| Home team | Result | Away team |
|---|---|---|
| De Graafschap | 2–3 | Willem II (on November 8) |
| Helmond Sport | 2–2 (p: 5-4) | Cambuur Leeuwarden (Nov. 12) |
| NAC Breda | 5–1 | VV Katwijk (on November 12) |
| FeyenoordE | 2–0 | TOP Oss (on November 12) |
| Young PSV | 3–4 | Telstar |
| Roda JCE | 1–0 | Veendam |
| FC Volendam | 2–2 (p: 4-5) | SC Heracles |
| sc Heerenveen | 6–1 | FC Eindhoven |
E six Eredivisie entrants
The matches of the round of 16 were played on February 4, 10 and 11, 1998.
| Home team | Result | Away team |
|---|---|---|
| NAC Breda | 5–0 | Helmond Sport |
| SC Heracles | 1–3 | Vitesse Arnhem |
| FC Twente | 1–0 | Willem II |
| Telstar | 0–1 | Fortuna Sittard |
| Ajax | 5–0 | Roda JC |
| Feyenoord | 2–0 | FC Groningen |
| NEC | 1–3 | sc Heerenveen |
| FC Den Bosch | 1–2 (aet) | PSV (on March 4) |
The quarter finals were played on March 11 and 12, 1998.
| Home team | Result | Away team |
|---|---|---|
| FC Twente | 3–1 | Vitesse Arnhem |
| Ajax | 2–1 | NAC Breda |
| PSV | 4–0 | Feyenoord |
| sc Heerenveen | 3–0 | Fortuna Sittard (on March 31) |
The semi-finals were played on April 29 and May 7, 1998.
| Home team | Result | Away team |
|---|---|---|
| PSV | 2–1 | FC Twente |
| Ajax | 3–0 | sc Heerenveen |
Since finalists Ajax and PSV already qualified for the Champions League, this match for the third place was played on May 14 to determine the Dutch participant for the last edition of theCup Winners' Cup.
| Home team | Result | Away team |
|---|---|---|
| sc Heerenveen | 3–1 | FC Twente |
Ajax also won the DutchEredivisie championship, thereby takingthe double. They would participate in theChampions League. PSV ended second in the Eredivisie, and qualified for the Champions League as well.
