ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS(AP) -- SC Heerenveen beat FC Twente 5-4 on penalties to win the Dutch Cup for the first time on Sunday after the final had finished 2-2 after extra time.

It was a bitterly disappointing finish for Youssouf Hersi, who leveled for Twente in the 118th minute to send the contest into the shootout - but then missed the decisive penalty for Steve McClaren's side.

The final, which had finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, pitted two foreign coaches for the first time since 1975 when Serbian Vujadin Boskov won the tournament with ADO The Hague against Twente, which was led by Spitz Kohn of Luxembourg.

Heerenveen, which had already secured a place in next season's Europa League, took the lead in the 27th minute when Goran Popov drilled home a left-foot shot from close range after a weak clearance by Twente goalkeeper Sander Boschker.

Eljero Elia equalized for Twente, the 1977 and 2001 cup winner, in the 55th minute, beating South African goalkeeper Hans Vonk with a thumping shot from a tight angle.

Ivory Coast winger Bonaventure Kalou restored Heerenveen's lead in the 112th minute but Hersi headed in Elia's cross to make it 2-2.

Theo Janssen, Blaise N'kufo, Edson Braafheid and Douglas were on target for Twente in the shootout while Viktor Elm, Michael Dingsdag, Michel Breuer, Kalou and Gerald Sibon scored for Heerenveen.

McClaren, who has already steered Twente to next season's Champion League qualifying competition, had to cope with losing two key players in Peter Wisgerhof and Marko Arnautovic within the first 15 minutes due to injuries.

Romano Denneboom, who replaced Arnautovic, missed a chance to level for Twente in the 48th minute when he failed to convert a pass from captain N'Kufo.

Kenneth Perez then hit the post with a 70th-minute shot as Twente dominated and Denneboom wasted another chance a minute later, directing his effort wide.

Veteran forward Sibon, who won two Dutch Cup crowns with Roda JC and PSV Eindhoven and two more with Ajax, set up Roy Beerens in the 74th minute but Boschker kept Twente in the match with a diving save.

Twente substitute Ronnie Stam came close when he struck the woodwork with a long-range drive four minutes into extra time.

Updated on Sunday, May 17, 2009 4:31 pm, EDT

Email to a Friend | View Popular