# 1997–98 KNVB Cup

The 1997-98 KNVB Cup (at the time called Amstel Cup) was the 80th edition of the Dutch national football annual knockout tournament for the KNVB Cup. 60 teams contested, beginning on 12 August 1997. The final was played on 17 May 1998.
Ajax beat PSV 5–0 and won the cup for the thirteenth time.

## Teams

* All 18 participants of the 1997–98 Eredivisie, six of which entering in the knock-out stage
* All 18 participants of the 1997–98 Eerste Divisie
* 21 teams from lower (amateur) leagues
* Three youth teams

## Group stage

The matches of the group stage were played between 12 August and 7 September 1997. 54 clubs participated, 26 advanced to the next round.
Group 1 :
| Team | Pts |
| 1. sc Heerenveen $_E$ | 9 |
| 2. Cambuur Leeuw. $_1$ | 6 |
| 3. Drachtster Boys $_A$ | 1 |
| 4. VVOG $_A$ | 1 |
Group 2 :
| Team | Pts |
| 1. SC Heracles $_1$ | 7 |
| 2. De Graafschap $_E$ | 6 |
| 3. RKSV Babberich $_A$ | 4 |
| 4. HSC '21 $_A$ | 0 |
Group 3 :
| Team | Pts |
| 1. NAC Breda $_E$ | 9 |
| 2. TOP Oss $_1$ | 6 |
| 3. SV Capelle $_A$ | 3 |
| 4. SC Feyenoord $_A$ | 0 |
Group 4 :
| Team | Pts |
| 1. FC Groningen $_E$ | 7 |
| 2. Veendam $_1$ | 7 |
| 3. Quick '20 $_A$ | 1 |
| 4. SC Genemuiden $_A$ | 1 |
Group 5 :
| Team | Pts |
| 1. Fortuna Sittard $_E$ | 9 |
| 2. Young PSV | 6 |
| 3. BVV/Caterpillar $_A$ | 3 |
| 4. VVV-Venlo $_1$ | 0 |
Group 6 :
| Team | Pts |
| 1. ADO Den Haag $_1$ | 9 |
| 2. Sparta $_E$ | 6 |
| 3. Excelsior $_1$ | 3 |
| 4. SVV Scheveningen $_A$ | 0 |
Group 7 :
| Team | Pts |
| 1. VV Katwijk $_A$ | 9 |
| 2. Dordrecht'90 $_1$ | 7 |
| 3. FC Utrecht $_E$ | 6 |
| 4. VV Noordwijk $_A$ | 6 |
| 5. Young HFC Haarlem | 1 |
Group 8 :
| Team | Pts |
| 1. Telstar $_1$ | 6 |
| 2. FC Volendam $_E$ | 6 |
| 3. Go Ahead Eagles $_1$ | 3 |
| 4. FC Lisse $_A$ | 3 |
Group 9 :
| Team | Pts |
| 1. Willem II $_E$ | 6 |
| 2. FC Eindhoven $_1$ | 6 |
| 3. SHO $_A$ | 4 |
| 4. RBC Roosendaal $_1$ | 1 |
Group 10 :
| Team | Pts |
| 1. RKC Waalwijk $_E$ | 9 |
| 2. FC Den Bosch $_1$ | 6 |
| 3. WSC $_A$ | 3 |
| 4. Young FC Utrecht | 0 |
Group 11 :
| Team | Pts |
| 1. FC Emmen $_1$ | 9 |
| 2. NEC $_E$ | 6 |
| 3. De Treffers $_A$ | 3 |
| 4. GVVV $_A$ | 0 |
Group 12 :
| Team | Pts |
| 1. Helmond Sport $_1$ | 7 |
| 2. MVV $_E$ | 7 |
| 3. EHC $_A$ | 3 |
| 4. VV Baronie $_A$ | 0 |
Group 13 :
| Team | Pts |
| 1. AZ $_1$ | 9 |
| 2. AFC '34 $_A$ | 5 |
| 3. FC Zwolle $_1$ | 5 |
| 4. HFC Haarlem $_1$ | 4 |
| 5. HVV Hollandia $_A$ | 4 |
$_E$ Eredivisie; $_1$ Eerste Divisie; $_A$ Amateur teams

## Knock-out stage
### First round

The matches of the first round were played on November 18 and 19, 1997. The six highest Eredivisie teams from last season entered the tournament this round.
| Home team | Result | Away team |
| Ajax $_E$ | 6–0 | MVV |
| PSV $_E$ | 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 Twente $_E$ |
| AFC '34 | 1–2 | Fortuna Sittard |
| RKC Waalwijk | 0–1 | Vitesse Arnhem $_E$ |
| 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) |
| Feyenoord $_E$ | 2–0 | TOP Oss (on November 12) |
| Young PSV | 3–4 | Telstar |
| Roda JC $_E$ | 1–0 | Veendam |
| FC Volendam | 2–2 (p: 4-5) | SC Heracles |
| sc Heerenveen | 6–1 | FC Eindhoven |
$_E$ six Eredivisie entrants

### Round of 16

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) |

### Quarter finals

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) |

### Semi-finals

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 |

### Third place match

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 the Cup Winners' Cup.
| Home team | Result | Away team |
| sc Heerenveen | 3–1 | FC Twente |

### Final

Ajax also won the Dutch Eredivisie championship, thereby taking the double. They would participate in the Champions League. PSV ended second in the Eredivisie, and qualified for the Champions League as well.