After last week's loss at Sparta, the question was how coach Edwin de Wijs' team would profile today. Opponent at De Herdgang: MVV. A team against whom we struggled in the final stages of the cup. And eventually won 2-0. A team that gave Feyenoord a hard time last week (3-4 loss). A match that, despite MVV's low ranking, would certainly not be easy.
Despite the abundant rainfall of the last few days, the pitch looked good, even and green. Logical because we were playing on artificial turf.... Which also meant that the ball could be passed around quickly. Especially since it was still wet. PSV started well and dictated the game from the very first whistle. Especially on the right flank Lennerd Daneels was a plague for the Maastricht defense. PSV deserved to take the lead. This time it was Jaëll Hattu who burst through on the right and delivered a fine cross to striker Matthias Verreth. Matthias hung in the air so long and high that the flight tower at Welschap Airport almost set off all the alarm bells. With a firm header, he headed the ball into the right corner. A jewel of a goal! After fifteen minutes of play, MVV suddenly came alongside after a player was left free at a corner and was able to head in the 1-1 goal.
PSV struggled for a while, but soon picked up the right thread. Chances were strung together. But the ball just wouldn't go in. Finally, in the 24th minute, Jaëll Hattu picked up the ball in midfield and crossed through the middle to coolly put PSV's new lead on the fictitious board. As PSV failed to take further distance before halftime, and MVV could only create danger through stoppages, we went to the warmth of the dressing room with a 2-1 lead.
After halftime, the game remained the same. However, the weather was different than before halftime: the rain was pouring down. PSV continued to look for holes in the Maastricht defense in the second half. And was successful in the 47th minute. Jaëll again found the net by shooting the ball in from close range after a cross from Matthias from the left flank. A few minutes later followed the ABSOLUTE highlight of the match. The strong playing Dante Rigo found Matthias at the 2nd post with a long-distance kick, who shot the ball in one go with a bicycle-kick behind the goalkeeper who had no chance at all. What a goal and the spectators had the perfect opportunity to warm their hands again....
Despite PSV's superiority, MVV was able to get back in the game. A sloppiness in the Eindhoven rearguard was resolutely punished, making it 4-2. This goal fortunately did not tilt the game, as PSV continued to create chances and opportunities. From these, the team was able to score twice more. First it was Lennerd who rounded off a fine cross from Ertem Bölükbas in a controlled manner, and Justin Lonwijk also scored again after he got the ball at his feet on the edge of offside, did not hesitate and also slid the ball into the corner in a controlled manner.
A well deserved victory today. In two weeks we resume the league. Then the technical staff will be reinforced with newcomer Joonas Kolkka who takes over as assistant coach from Danny Mathijssen. Joonas: welcome and Danny: thank you for your commitment in recent months!
Mike van de Meulenhof; Jordan Teze (46' Ymanuel Hurkmans), Tom Scheepers (c) (46' Kaan Tanriver), Lassana Faye, Ties van den Eijnde; Dante Rigo, Roel van Linschoten (50' Justin Lonwijk), Jaëll Hattu; Lennerd Daneels, Matthias Verreth (60' Ertem Bölükbas), Karim Bannani (46' Cody Gakpo).