With only two games in their legs, PSV's o15 started their league this weekend. The first match was friendly (1-2 loss against Fc Twente). Last week Sparta was beaten in a cup game after penalties (2-2 final score after which PSV won the penalty shootout 6-5).
Still no victory this football season for the team of trainers Edwin de Wijs and Eric Addo. Possibly that would change in Amsterdam ... There we met not Ajax but AFC that managed to qualify for the Eredivisie o15 last year.
PSV started well and already had a great chance in the 2nd minute when striker Yorbe Vertessen was sent away by captain Damian Timan. Unfortunately for the Eindhoven striker, he hit the AFC goalie. A minute later Damian himself was close to scoring the opening goal. A fine, strong start by PSV.
However, it was AFC who boldly took the lead as early as the 4th minute. A far kick from behind was not quite correctly assessed by the PSV defense, allowing the fast striker to head towards the Eindhoven goal. His swerving ball was turned away by goalkeeper Jurre Schaafsma, but in the rebound a player on the other side was able to tap in the 1-0.
PSV had to deal with an early setback. And AFC could legitimately fold backwards, building a big wall around their own 16-meter line. Hard to play football through that.
Still, PSV managed to play some chances together. Due to good positional play and high ball circulation they became threatening. And it was waiting for the equalizer.
It finally came in the 31st minute when Damian took a free kick on the left. The free kick went straight to the head of Shurandy Sambo, who nodded it in.
Just before half time a copy of the situation was almost responsible for PSV taking the lead. Unfortunately this time Shurandy hit the underside of the crossbar. Both teams went to the dressing rooms with the same score.
After halftime, it was the home team that was a bit bolder than before the break. And almost took the lead for a second time in the 38th when a header after a corner went over. PSV recovered, however, and despite being less dominant than in the first half, it was clearly the better team.
Rightfully, it took the lead in the 48th minute. Left back Jochem van Dijk sent Yorbe into the depths and this time Yorbe was calm and slid the ball into the right corner: 1-2.
Just after the lead, PSV was unlucky that a Mees Kreekels effort was cleared out of the goal mouth. Otherwise, the match would have been decided. After Mathijs Bel headed a beautiful, tight free kick from Mo Ihattaren just over, PSV got away well in the 60th minute.
A free kick by the AFC captain sailed just over Jurre's goal. A minute later, the striker was allowed to take another game-winning penalty. However, it was a kick-off. Because PSV had found the net again. Yorbe went through on the right and passed to the substitute Beslan Sagov, who cleverly headed in the 1-3, putting the game definitively in the lock.
Just before time, the goal even came to 1-4. Instead of scoring himself, Mo allowed his colleague Yorbe his 2nd goal. AFC came close in the last minute when a free kick hit the bar.
A fine, spacious and deserved victory for PSV. Especially in the first half they showed good football. And did not let a quick goal get in the way.
Jurre Schaafsma; Mees Kreekels, Shurandy Sambo, Dennis Vos, Jochem van Dijk; Mathijs Bel, Stijn van der Put (47' Dani Mathieu), Damian Timan (c); Mo Ihataren, Yorbe Vertessen, Thijs Martens (57' Beslan Sagov).