The Report
Just like last week, a Gelderland opponent was PSV O15's guest at De Herdgang. Where the Eindhoven team got stuck at 1-1 against Vitesse last weekend, this time they won. N.E.C. fell victim to the Eindhoven drive and went home with a 2-0 defeat. The draw by leaders Ajax meant that PSV reduced the gap to four points.
After N.E.C. came threateningly in front of the Eindhoven goal through a corner in the first minute, it was PSV that then dictated the game. With mostly two rows of five players, the Nijmegen club erected a tight wall, with the front line often standing halfway up their own half. It was up to PSV to come up with something on that, and break down the wall. It immediately had the perfect opportunity to do so in the 8th minute when it was awarded a penalty. Kees van Lindert was tapped by the goalkeeper in the penalty area after a good pass from Fodé Fofana. Jayden Braaf took care of the penalty and scored the 1-0 in a controlled manner. Because PSV had about 80-90% ball possession, but could not create many big chances, it remained with this one goal until halftime.
In the second half, PSV immediately had a chance to put the game away. Jason Pigmans delivered a hard cross that captain Ian Maatsen just couldn't reach. It was not long before the 2-0 fell anyway. Joost de Schutter kicked the ball unerringly from a free kick into the ropes in the 41st minute. Also after this goal, PSV kept looking for more goals, but unfortunately the home team could not find the net. N.E.C. could do little in return so the game ended like a candle. An easy win for Edwin de Wijs' team and Vincent Heilmann that will face another tough opponent in Utrecht next week. Earlier this season the game in Eindhoven ended 1-1 and today the Utrechters defeated Ajax 2-2 in Amsterdam. To keep up the pressure on Ajax, a win in Utrecht is needed as well.
Setup: Robin Verhoeven; Thomas Cox (48' Alberto Puts), Nigel Lonwijk, Joost de Schutter, Heritier Deyonge (52' Joep Kluskens); Mathijs Tielemans, Ian Maatsen (c), Kees van Lindert (60' Amin Doudah); Fodé Fofana (60' Jeremy Antonisse), Jason Pigmans (48' Jur Clabbers), Jayden Braaf.