Cocu's PSV seal Dutch Cup success

PSV Eindhoven have lifted the Dutch Cup for the ninth time thanks to a 3-0 win against Heracles Almelo in the Rotterdam showpiece, just weeks after Phillip Cocu took over the club's reins.

Contesting the first final of their 109-year history, Heracles were backed by 18,000 fans at Feijenoord Stadion, but they held out for just over half an hour before Ola Toivonen broke the deadlock. Set up by Zakaria Labyad, the Sweden forward finished beautifully with a shot taken behind his standing leg.

Georginio Wijnaldum then hit the crossbar for PSV before Dries Mertens doubled their lead on 56 minutes, beating goalkeeper Remko Pasveer to Erik Pieters' ball from deep and heading in. Jeremain Lens made it 3-0 seven minutes later when he finished off a rapid counterattack by lifting the ball over Pasveer – thus sealing Cocu's first trophy as coach since the former Dutch international replaced Fred Rutten last month.

"I am very happy, especially with the way we won," said Cocu. "I'm very satisfied. Our second half was excellent. I saw a PSV side today that was determined to do one thing only, and that was to win the cup. This cup also belongs to Fred Rutten and Erik ten Hag [Rutten’s assistant]. Today we can celebrate, but tomorrow we must focus on RKC [Waalwijk] away."

PSV travel to face RKC on Wednesday as they continue their Eredivisie campaign. Now guaranteed a spot in the UEFA Europa League play-offs, Cocu's men are still targeting a top-two finish and a place in next season's UEFA Champions League. The Eindhoven outfit currently lie four points behind leaders AFC Ajax in fourth.