Today the C1 faced Excelsior for the third time. Both previous times, once cup and once league, the game was turned into a win. And both times 1-2. It was therefore to be expected that PSV would win 2-1. But also this match started 0-0. So it was far from that yet.....
Unlike last week, PSV started sharp. It gave the guests from Rotterdam the feeling from the very first whistle that there was nothing to win in Eindhoven.
That quickly resulted in the opening goal. For in the 4th minute Amar Catiç picked up the ball halfway through the Rotterdam half, and PSV quickly converted. Amar put the ball aside after a short run to the right where the running Leandro Fernandes then finished very nicely.
After this quick goal, PSV continued to hunt for more goals. After a beautiful long cross pass from Armando Obispo to Amar, the latter opened his box of tricks. Or was it his hairdresser's box, because a few scissors came out after all......he sent his opponent completely into the woods. Apparently he is still there. Unfortunately, this beautiful attack was not crowned with a goal because Amar's cross did not reach a fellow player.
After 15 minutes of play, PSV doubled its lead. A free kick by Armando from 24 meters was hammered in with conviction. Or was it a keeper who let the ball slip through his hands and legs like a hot potato? Anyway: the 2-0 was on the scoreboard.
A few minutes later Amar was close to scoring after Leandro sent him away. Amar decided to take the deep ball as a volley, but unfortunately he saw the shot go just wide.
After PSV left several opportunities unused, it was a penalty by Armando that made it 3-0 at halftime. The penalty was given after striker Cody Gakpo was hooked inside the infamous lines.
Excelsior did have one small opportunity until halftime (a shot that was effortlessly picked up by goalkeeper Arne Lekens). But after halftime they immediately got a nice opportunity: a free kick from just outside the 16 meters left Arne cold. For this effort too became an easy prey for him.
PSV quickly took back control of the game. Although the first phase of the second half seemed a bit messier. Nevertheless, PSV again strung together the necessary chances. However, it took until the 51st minute before the net was found again. Baggio Wallenburg, posted in midfield this time, put Cody away beautifully, who easily scored the 4-0.
Then it went quickly: in the 56th minute Amar put Leandro free in front of the goalkeeper with a subtle pass. A defender who had rushed in thought that (despite the fact that the game was played on artificial grass) he had to get some green fingers, because he unceremoniously shoved Leandro down. And so the excellent referee pointed to the spot for the second time. This time it was the other central defender, Lars Dickens, who got behind the ball and left the goalkeeper defenseless: 5-0.
And the cake wasn't over yet! In the 64th minute Amar poked his opponent for a change after an inimitable feint and laid the ball ready for Gaétan Bosiers who shot the ball hard inside.
As a final chord Leandro scored the 7-0 after a kind of indoor football goal in which Cody was responsible for the assist.
A big victory today. PSV washed away the particularly bad taste of last week and immediately gained confidence for next week's match (then Sparta, still fighting for the title, is away) and the cup final against Ajax in May.
Arne Lekens; Jordan Teze, Lars Dickens, Armando Obispo (c), Gaetan Bosiers; Robin Schoonbrood, Baggio Wallenburg, Leandro Fernandes; Amar Catiç, Cody Gakpo, Yasin Aalillou (48' Tijn Daverveld).