The topper between Nos. 1 and 2 was on the program this weekend! Feyenoord received No. 2 PSV as frontrunners. As the Rotterdammers turned a 0-1 deficit at home against Ajax last week into 2-1 in the closing stages, they started the game as leaders. PSV also had a good dress down by sending Willem II home with a hopeless 8-0 defeat in the previous round.

The gap between the two title contenders was 2 points before the match. PSV lost in Gelderland to both NEC and Vitesse. Feyenoord also lost all its points in away matches: 1-1 at Fc Utrecht and 2-2 at Willem II. Waiting and wondering how this topper would go.

On a greasy, slippery pitch, both teams started the match messily. Nevertheless, the home team took the lead in the 6th minute. After a frommul situation, the ball suddenly came at the feet of the outside right who did not think twice and suddenly shot the ball into the far corner.

PSV struggled for a while but had a chance to equalize in the 10th minute. Striker Yorbe Vertessen put captain Damian Timan free in front of the goal, but unfortunately he hit the keeper's outstretched leg. Yet something started to come alive after this moment. The team got the feeling that there was something to be gained at Varkenoord.

As the first half progressed, PSV became the better team. Feyenoord tried to be dangerous through oportunistic play. PSV tried to combine from midfield. And also created some opportunities.

In the 15th minute Mo Ihattaren quickly took a free kick to Damian who crossed hard. But saw that nobody could put his foot against the ball. Ten minutes later, a free kick from Mo landed on the roof of the goal.

A minute after that, PSV had a great chance. Mo sent Yorbe into the corner and his cross landed on the head of Damian who unfortunately could not give the ball enough direction. At least: the right direction...

In the 28th minute, PSV was rewarded for their good play. After Mo forced the Feyenoord keeper into action with a good individual move, Damian was allowed to take a corner. This landed at the far post and came back in front of the goal where it was a piece of cake for Mathijs Bel to kick the ball into the net: 1-1.

PSV had Feyenoord "hanging against the ropes" at that point, to speak in boxing terms. And also had chances to hand out the knockout. However, this a Feyenoord player literally did when he knocked left back Jochem van Dijk to the ground with a strike. An altercation followed, with both players receiving yellow. Where red would have been more appropriate for one player. However, the referee could not have observed the blow himself and that is where Feyenoord swerved.

Just before halftime PSV almost went 1-2 up when winger Beslan Sagov curled a ball just over the Rotterdam goal. Because a goal by Dennis Vos was also (rightly) disallowed for offside, both teams went to rest at 1-1.

In the second half, little spectacular happened in front of the goals. PSV forgot to play football and allowed themselves to be carried away more and more by the Feyenoord game. This created a mediocre match that did remain exciting.

Feyenoord did manage a few pinpricks now and then. PSV also got some chances. Especially from stationary situations. Mees Kreekels almost headed in a Damian corner, but his effort went just wide. And Beslan played the ball too far in front of him at the last moment in the 16-yard area, allowing the goalkeeper to limit the danger.

Halfway through the second half, Feyenoord had a big chance out of nowhere. But keeper Jurre Schaafsma's quick exit prevented another Rotterdam lead.

After that, PSV was dangerous twice. Yorbe could not put enough venom in a shot. And with fifteen minutes to play Damian almost ran into a well taken free kick from Mo. If he could have hit the ball it would have been a goal. Now the incoming free kick went just wide.

In the 62nd minute Feyenoord suddenly took the lead again. The left-winger received the ball and curled it into the top corner: 2-1. PSV had to take risks and were fortunate that a minute later the referee did not award Feyenoord a penalty after a foul inside the infamous lines.

After Feyenoord missed another opportunity in the closing minutes, Yorbe had another chance in the final minute when he was forced to take a quick shot but again failed to add enough pace and direction to surprise the Rotterdam goalkeeper. In the ensuing counterattack Feyenoord countered to 3-1 and it was all over for PSV.

PSV lost the topper. And did themselves wrong by not taking at least one point from Rotterdam. If they had kept playing from their own strengths in the second half, they could have taken more than one point. Next week the team will get a chance for revenge. Because then Feyenoord will visit when both teams meet in the 1/8th cup final.


Jurre Schaafsma; Mees Kreekels (62' Lars Koolen), Shurandy Sambo, Elgero King, Jochem van Dijk (45' Thijs Martens); Mathijs Bel, Dennis Vos, Damian Timan (c); Mohamed Ihattaren, Yorbe Vertessen, Beslan Sagov (50' Dani Mathieu).

Yellow cards: Jochem van Dijk and Damian Timan