Feyenoord will meet NEC in the final of this year’s KNVB Cup competition, after a difficult 2-1 win over Groningen in the second semi-final on Thursday night.

However, the win was overshadowed by a possible serious injury for Calvin Stengs, who was stretchered off in tears after a nasty tackle by Marvin Peersman.

“Let us hope it is nothing serious,” said coach Arno Slot. “I hope the tears were just from shock.” Stengs was out for almost a year with a torn ligament in the 2017/18 season.

The Dutch cup is the only realistic option for a prize for the Rotterdam side this season. Feyenoord is 10 points behind PSV in the Eredivisie and was put out of the Europa League by AS Roma last month.

The final will be played at the Kuip stadium in Rotterdam on April 21.