After 10 league rounds behind us, this 11th round featured a topper: PSV versus AZ. The two teams are part of a select group that is (now) well behind Ajax. With 30 points, the Amsterdammers have the lead. PSV follows with 21 points and right behind with 20 points are AZ and Feyenoord. Finally, Sparta completes the select company of close pursuers with 19 points.

Both PSV and AZ suffered costly point losses in their pursuit of Ajax. Both teams ended in a draw. PSV at home against mid-table Utrecht (1-1). Sparta held AZ to 2-2.

To stay in the number one spot, both teams had to win today. An open match was to be expected.

Because the sun only provided some warmth to part of the main field, the pitch consisted of well playable and slippery parts. Tricky play, in other words. And it showed in the match. Both teams used a high tempo, but because that was also accompanied by a lot of sloppiness, the game did not really get going.

Very little happened in front of the goals. Jayden Braaf sent Mohammed Ihattaren away with a very subtle foot movement in the 8th minute. But Mo failed to finish. After Ian Maatsen almost shot the ball into his own goal moments later in his attempt to clear the ball, it was PSV that threatened twice. First, Kees van Lindert captured the ball in midfield after which he played to Jayden. But like Mo in the early stages, he too failed to finish and saw his shot cracked.

In the 17th minute Emmanuel Manu was close to scoring the 1-0 when he headed a corner from Joost de Schutter wide at the far post. Thanks to excellent goalkeeping by Peter Strijbosch, AZ was prevented from scoring. With a deep ball the fast left winger was sent away and he could only run at Peter and pick the corner. With a fine reflex Peter turned away the danger and the 0-1 seemed certain.

After a sharp cross from Mo in the 25th minute was cleared just before the head of a PSV player, the game really got going in the 33rd minute.

In this exciting minute a lot of things happened. First Mo's effort was miraculously kicked away before, on or behind the goal line and then, on the counter attack, Manu slipped and inadvertently touched the otherwise broken through AZ player in his fall, allowing Peter to get to the ball faster than the Alkmaar player. Red or .... The well-managing referee ruled that nothing untoward happened and allowed play to continue. Much commotion on and around the field, and the game finally seemed to be on the wagon.

However, the 2nd half also began rippling again. A shot by Mo that went wide was the only feat. Until AZ took a cheeky lead in the 41st minute. Ball loss on the sideline midway through PSV's half was disastrous. The rearguard was out of organization and Peter was this time chanceless on the effort from close range on the cross from the right: 0-1.

PSV was once again facing a deficit. That had happened before this season and often it was turned around. Because the absolute will to win and the sharpness were lacking today, that celebration was not to be. The home team did not get much more than a few shots from distance that were easily taken by the goalie or shots that went wide. The closest Joost came was when the AZ goalkeeper tapped his shot into the near corner.

PSV did try and started playing with four strikers in the hope of forcing something. That also meant that at the back they played 1 on 1. Space for the guests who almost took advantage of that in the 59th minute. But just like in the first half, Peter bravely threw himself on the ball when an AZ player appeared in front of him.

Thus the match ended 0-1 and PSV suffered a very expensive defeat. Looking at the nature of the chances as well as the sheer will to win combined with acting as a team, there was little to detract from AZ's victory. Unfortunately.....

PSV lost at home again and seems to have lost the title race for good. But as they say: "It ain't over till the fat lady sings". Or in peasant Dutch: "you never know how a cow catches a hare".

Next week the away game against red-light holder VVV Venlo. Time for revenge and the opportunity to go into the last game before the winter break against Ajax with a good feeling.

Peter Strijbosch; Thomas Cox (36' Heritier Deyonge), Alberto Puts, Emmanuel Matuta (55' Nigel Lonwijk), Ian Maatsen (c); Joost de Schutter (62' Jur Clabbers), Mohamed Ihattaren, Kees van Lindert; Jeremy Antonisse (50' Amin Doudah), Jayden Braaf, Jason Pigmans.