This weekend, PSV's under 15 entered the match at home against VVV C1. An opponent of stature. Not only because it has achieved great results so far, but also because it apparently has a lot of physical strength (according to stories from teams that already played VVV). Entering the field at the warm-up, it indeed appeared that within the team there were a few "bears of players". Nice thought on animal day.....

Because only the numbers 1 to 4 qualify for the Eredivisie after the winter break, it was a sort of 6-point game. PSV knew what it had to do: go full steam ahead.

The opening phase was particularly hopeful. Already in the first 3 minutes Joep Hakkens had two opportunities to put the opening goal on the scoreboard. At the second attempt he was unlucky that the VVV goalkeeper just managed to push the ball against the post with his fingertips. The Venlo goalie soon proved to be a real "stumbling block". For in the 7th minute he boxed a hard shot from Yorbe Vertessen out of the goal.

Two minutes later an angel was leaning against the post when a corner by Davy van den Berg was cleverly extended with the head by Koen Oostenbrink. However, the ball came back into the field via inside post. Again two minutes later it was almost a goal again. After a wrong kick by the Limburg goalkeeper, the ball ended up at the feet of Joop Daniels who did not think twice and directed the ball from about 25 meters towards the empty goal. With a fabulous, Gomes-like reflex, the goalkeeper was able to prevent the opening goal.

The resulting corner gave away a goal after all. Not for PSV but for VVV......the guests countered in the transition to 0-1.

PSV lost the initiative for a while. PSV lost the initiative and fought not only against VVV but more against themselves. It had to watch out for VVV's sharp changeovers. In the 22nd minute, Yorbe was close to an equalizer when Davy sent him into the depth. But again it was the goalkeeper who prevented worse by coming out far.

With shots from Davy and Yorbe the home team tried to score the equalizer. Without success. VVV also had two chances to add to the score in the closing stages of the first half, but fortunately failed to do so, leaving the visitors with a 0-1 deficit.

After the resumption, PSV turned the screws. A corner by Davy in the 37th minute was headed wide by Joop at the far post.

PSV was forced to make a change in the 39th minute. Joep Hakkens had to leave the field injured and Sem van den Broek made the reverse move. He entered the field. And how! His first contact immediately gave PSV the equalizer when he put his foot against the ball after a free kick from Davy: 1-1.

The goal gave PSV a boost. It increased the pressure even further and VVV could hardly create any more danger. It was even lucky when Yorbe's lob went over the goalkeeper but was kicked out of the mouth of the goal by a defender who ran along.

Yet it was Yorbe who crowned his good game with a goal and thus gave PSV the lead. In the 44th minute he was cleverly served by Joop and easily scored the 2-1.

After the lead, PSV continued to search for a goal. Because they were too sloppy in their finishing, were unlucky to have a strong goalkeeper on goal or slipped away at the crucial moment, the margin remained one goal. And so we had to stay alert and sharp in the sparse VVV raids.

A number of players visibly lost strength in the closing stages. Physio Ruud had to take the field regularly for cramp symptoms and is now almost eligible for new shoes.

Despite the fact that PSV ran on its gums, so to speak, it still created chances to put the game finally in the lock. Sem's hard shot and Yorbe's (slightly too soft) header were parried.

In the 61st minute VVV was close to an equalizer when the striker shot over a cross from the flank. VVV did not get more than this chance so PSV won a hard-fought victory.

A fine performance, especially since Edwin de Wijs and Eric Addo's team started today with three first-year C-players. Given the odds, a more than deserved victory.

Next week follows the away game at Nec.


Lucas Derks; Benjamin Kailie (36' Evert Linthorst), Shurandy Sambo, Abou Kone, Bryan van Hove (57' Joey Verhoeven); Koen Oostenbrink (c), Joep Hakkens (39' Sem van den Broek), Davy van den Berg; Arne Bens (54' Vince Colpaert), Joop Daniels, Yorbe Vertessen.