In the intermediate round for the KNVB Cup, PSV's o15 played in and against Groningen. Intermediate round? Yes, after the first round 20 teams remained. And with that number you can't get to 2 finalists without an intermediate round. The KNVB decided that an intermediate round had to be played. And so 8 teams played in this round to leave 4 teams who, together with the 12 teams that had been liberated, would continue to compete for the cup.

While PSV easily survived the 1st round (7-0 victory over Dordrecht, Gronigen had significantly more trouble with Quick. But thanks to a 2-1 victory, they eventually made it through.

In the match between sponosors Essent (Groningen) and Energie.direct (PSV), you might expect an energetic match. A game of football with a lot of energy. Or would it be paralyzing because the team was under high pressure? We were going to experience it this afternoon.

PSV opened well and almost scored the opening goal in the 4th minute. After a foul just outside the 16 meters on Kees van Lindert, Joost de Schutter got behind the ball. He sent the ball just short of the corner enough to pass the Groningen goalkeeper.

Groningen was not dangerous for the first time until the 16th minute. The ball got stuck in the penalty area, but fortunately was shot wildly and high over.

Just before halftime, PSV finally managed to find the net. After an action by Jason Pigmans, the ball ended up with Mathijs Tielemans, who saw his shot hit the crossbar. The rebound was for striker Jur Clabbers. Unfortunately the assistant referee had raised the flag in the meantime, and the referee took over the signal. A debatable decision, but there was still enough time for PSV to take sporting revenge.

For a while after halftime, Groningen was the most threatening. PSV seemed vulnerable and unsettled at the back and were lucky that Peter Strijbosch acted well when a Groninger suddenly appeared in front of him. PSV had been warned. It also tried to open up the game, but the real sharpness was lacking today. Especially up front it just wasn't there today.

Via distance shots and flanking balls it tried to demolish the Groningen wall. Efforts by Jason, Jur, Kees and Jeremy Antonisse were unsuccessful.

At the other end, the Groningers remained alert. Peter tapped a free kick from under the bar 10 minutes before the end. But 5 minutes later Groningen made it 1-0 when a midfielder scored from inside the 16.

PSV had to hunt for at least one goal in the absolute closing stages. And got the chance for the 1-1 in the person of Jur. Instead of the goal he shot against the outstretched leg of a Groningen defender.

Thus, PSV lost the intermediate round in the cup competition unnecessarily and can fully focus on the league. With a bad feeling it could start the long bus trip towards the South. Next week the trip goes to the North again where Heerenveen will be the opponent in the league.

Peter Strijbosch; Nigel Lonwijk (45' Heritier Deyonge), Emanuel Matuta (c), Joost de Schutter, Alberto Puts; Mathijs Tielemans, Joep Kluskens (42' Mohamed Nassoh), Kees van Lindert; Jeremy Antonisse (59' Djurre Verschut), Jur Clabbers, Jason Pigmans.

Yellow card: Joost de Schutter