Despite Ajax's status as 20-time winners of the competition and their recent efforts to stabilize their season, the match unfolded as a significant upset in the modest Stadion Galgenwaard in Utrecht.
Initially falling two goals behind, Ajax managed a late comeback with two quick goals in the final seven minutes of regular time. However, USV Hercules clinched a dramatic 93rd-minute winner through Mats Grotenberg, securing their biggest-ever victory and arguably the most surprising result in the competition's history.
The match marked the end of Ajax's remarkable record, as no amateur team had scored against them in the KNVB Beker since 2017. Tim Pieters broke that streak after just 16 minutes, giving USV Hercules an unexpected lead.
Despite Ajax's recent improved form with six wins and two draws in their last eight domestic matches, the team couldn't overcome the deficit. Pieters extended the lead for USV Hercules shortly after the hour mark.
Ajax, trailing by two goals with only minutes remaining, sparked hope with Brian Bobbey halving the deficit in the 83rd minute. Chuba Akpom then leveled the score in the 89th minute, seemingly salvaging the match for Ajax. However, Grotenberg's 93rd-minute winner secured an unforgettable victory for the fourth-tier side against the giants of Dutch football.
This triumph marked USV Hercules' first cup victory against any team since March 1937, and it was Ajax's first-ever defeat in the KNVB Beker against amateur opposition, breaking a streak of 30 previous such matches. In 2023, Ajax has now suffered 14 defeats, surpassing their highest number of losses in a single calendar year, which was 17 in 1964.
