This weekend an important match was scheduled: PSV o15 against Ajax o15. An important game for both teams. PSV could continue a nice series after big wins against Vitesse (6-1) and Twente (0-5 for the cup). For Ajax a crucial duel because it is in fact still the only challenger of leader Feyenoord. The Amsterdammers are in 2nd place with 40 from 18. The Rotterdammers are proudly in the lead with 7 points. PSV is 4th with 30 from 17 games.
It is also a special game because both teams will meet in the cup semifinals later this season. Plenty of interest.
In October, PSV won very handsomely in Amsterdam by 1-2 against "the Godsons". Would the Eindhoveners manage to beat the Amsterdammers again?
After an opening phase in which Ajax had the ball and PSV calmly waited, the game broke open in the 9th minute. A great long pass from defender Shurandy Sambo fell exactly behind the Amsterdam defense where the deep Dennis Vos took a fine shot and left the Ajax goalkeeper chance-free: 1-0. A great goal! And what an opening!
A few minutes later Yorbe Vertessen seemed to be on his way to doubling the lead. But on his way to goal he was stopped irregularly by the Ajax last man. The Ajax man was only yellow. The remaining free kick was shot by Damian Timan just wide.
Despite having much more ball possession than the home side, Ajax could not find a hole in the Eindhoven defense. Yet after fifteen minutes of play the equalizer fell. A free kick was crossed and an Ajax player was able to head in fairly freely.
After this setback, PSV remained the team with less ball possession, but with the chances and opportunities. And it took the lead again in the 18th minute. After Yorbe was again stopped at the cost of a yellow card, Mohammed Ihattaren took the free kick. The goalkeeper tapped it out of the short corner, but Mees Kreekels was then able to fire the rebound in impeccably: 2-1.
In the 23rd minute, PSV seemed to decide the game. A long ball from Mohammed to Damian allowed them to break through. Damian sent a perfect cross to Yorbe, but he just bumped into a leg of the Ajax goalkeeper.
After PSV missed two more opportunities and Ajax also threatened once, both teams went to rest with a 2-1 score.
After halftime, there was a (as it turned out later) breaking point in the match in the 37th minute. Mathijs Bel again sent Yorbe into the depths and he was brought down inside the 16 meters. Penalty for PSV and another yellow card for an Ajax player. Captain Damian took care of the penalty as always. But perhaps he had been watching PSV 1 a little too much, because his effort was turned away. Gone was the possible 3-1 lead.
In the end, this proved to be the breaking point. Where three minutes later Ajax had a chance to equalize, in the 42nd minute it did hit the mark. An Ajax player squeezed in between three PSV players and scored the equalizer.
Another 3 minutes later Ajax countered to 2-3 after PSV intervened too hesitantly in midfield. So PSV had to get going this time. And 20 minutes also got the chance for 3-3. A beautiful pass from Lars Koolen ended up with the in-depth Damian. But it did not turn out to be his afternoon. Again he hit the goalkeeper.
Because in the 54th minute a duel on the sideline degenerated into some old-fashioned pushing and pulling, and the referee judged it to be "where two argue, two are to blame", both players could retire and go to the locker rooms early.
Although this created more space on the pitch, PSV was no longer in a position to repair the damage done. Indeed, in the closing stages of the game, PSV scored another goal when Ajax's left-winger turned the ball into the right crossbar. After Ajax hit the crossbar once more, the referee called it quits and the paperwork could be completed after the goal- and card-fest.
Jurre Schaafsma; Mees Kreekels, Shurandy Sambo, Elgero King, Jochem van Dijk; Mathijs Bel, Dennis Vos, Damian Timan (c); Mo Ihattaren, Yorbe Vertessen, Thijs Martens (43' Lars Koolen).
Red: Shurandy Sambo
Yellow: Mees Kreekels