| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Netherlands |
| Teams | 60 |
| Defending champions | Roda JC Kerkrade |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Ajax |
| Runner-up | PSV |
| Third place | Heerenveen |
| Fourth place | Twente |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Top goal scorer(s) | Anthony Lurling (7 goals) |
The 80th edition of the KNVB Cup (at the time called Amstel Cup) started on August 12, 1997. The final was played on May 17, 1998 and saw Ajax beat PSV 5–0 and won the cup for the thirteenth time. A total of 60 clubs participated.
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 August 12 and September 7, 1997. 54 clubs participated, 26 advanced to the next round.
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1. sc Heerenveen E | 9 |
| 2. Cambuur Leeuw. 1 | 6 |
| 3. Drachtster Boys A | 1 |
| 4. VVOG A | 1 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1. SC Heracles 1 | 7 |
| 2. De Graafschap E | 6 |
| 3. RKSV Babberich A | 4 |
| 4. HSC '21 A | 0 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1. NAC Breda E | 9 |
| 2. TOP Oss 1 | 6 |
| 3. SV Capelle A | 3 |
| 4. SC Feyenoord A | 0 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1. FC Groningen E | 7 |
| 2. Veendam 1 | 7 |
| 3. Quick '20 A | 1 |
| 4. SC Genemuiden A | 1 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1. Fortuna Sittard E | 9 |
| 2. Young PSV | 6 |
| 3. BVV/Caterpillar A | 3 |
| 4. VVV-Venlo 1 | 0 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1. ADO Den Haag 1 | 9 |
| 2. Sparta E | 6 |
| 3. Excelsior 1 | 3 |
| 4. SVV Scheveningen A | 0 |
| 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 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1. Telstar 1 | 6 |
| 2. FC Volendam E | 6 |
| 3. Go Ahead Eagles 1 | 3 |
| 4. FC Lisse A | 3 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1. Willem II E | 6 |
| 2. FC Eindhoven 1 | 6 |
| 3. SHO A | 4 |
| 4. RBC Roosendaal 1 | 1 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1. RKC Waalwijk E | 9 |
| 2. FC Den Bosch 1 | 6 |
| 3. WSC A | 3 |
| 4. Young FC Utrecht | 0 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1. FC Emmen 1 | 9 |
| 2. NEC E | 6 |
| 3. De Treffers A | 3 |
| 4. GVVV A | 0 |
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| 1. Helmond Sport 1 | 7 |
| 2. MVV E | 7 |
| 3. EHC A | 3 |
| 4. VV Baronie A | 0 |
| 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.